Copa Rushmori 42 - Everything Thread (Rushmore only)

by **Mytanija** » Fri Dec 09, 2022 4:38 pm

Sign-Up Thread - Host Bid - Copa Rushmori 41

Welcome to the 42nd edition of the Copa Rushmori in Mytanija. The FSM is honoured to be bringing the region's most prestigious tournament to the country for the third time and is looking forward to showcasing the country to the rest of the region.

GROUP DRAW

GROUP A
New Gelderland (UR)
Oberour Ar Moro (18)
Mytanija (6)
Astograth (13)
The Askari Union (33)

Venues:
MD1 - 2 vs 5 (Stadion Cassia, Cassia), 3 vs 4 (Radnika, Esca); 1 bye
MD2 - 5 vs 3 (Novi Atletskistadion, Thessia), 1 vs 2 (Stadion Cassia, Cassia); 4 bye
MD3 - 3 vs 1 (Stadion Prizren, Prizren), 4 vs 5 (Stadion Cassia, Cassia); 2 bye
MD4 - 1 vs 4 (Stadion Cassia, Cassia), 2 vs 3 (Radnika, Esca); 5 bye
MD5 - 4 vs 2 (Radnika, Esca), 5 vs 1 (Stadion Cassia, Cassia); 3 bye

GROUP B
Tikariot (11)
Bollonich (19)
Sargossa (8)
Olastor (UR)
Schutzenphalia and West Ruhntuhnkuhnland (42)

Venues:
MD1 - 2 vs 5 (Olujastadion, Ebor), 3 vs 4 (Arka Park, Snezhnaya); 1 bye
MD2 - 5 vs 3 (Olujastadion, Ebor), 1 vs 2 (Arka Park, Snezhnaya); 4 bye
MD3 - 3 vs 1 (Olujastadion, Ebor), 4 vs 5 (Arka Park, Snezhnaya); 2 bye
MD4 - 1 vs 4 (Olujastadion, Ebor), 2 vs 3 (Arka Park, Snezhnaya); 5 bye
MD5 - 4 vs 2 (Olujastadion, Ebor), 5 vs 1 (Arka Park, Snezhnaya); 3 bye

GROUP C
Kirungabi (UR)
Norrhem (49)
Cabo Azure (4)
Darmen (16)
Gatchingerrak Union (22)

Venues:
MD1 - 2 vs 5 (Miagostadion, Miago), 3 vs 4 (Psenicova, Decraa); 1 bye
MD2 - 5 vs 3 (Miagostadion, Miago), 1 vs 2 (Psenicova, Decraa); 4 bye
MD3 - 3 vs 1 (Miagostadion, Miago), 4 vs 5 (Psenicova, Decraa); 2 bye
MD4 - 1 vs 4 (Miagostadion, Miago), 2 vs 3 (Psenicova, Decraa); 5 bye
MD5 - 4 vs 2 (Miagostadion, Miago), 5 vs 1 (Psenicova, Decraa); 3 bye

GROUP D
Isle Noire (26)
Rea San Vegas (UR)
Nyowani Kitara (14)
Ceni (20)
Cassadaigua (2)

Venues:
MD1 - 2 vs 5 (Novi Kaunostadion, Thessia), 3 vs 4 (Gradski Stadion, Ibon); 1 bye
MD2 - 5 vs 3 (Novi Kaunostadion, Thessia), 1 vs 2 (Gradski Stadion, Ibon); 4 bye
MD3 - 3 vs 1 (Novi Kaunostadion, Thessia), 4 vs 5 (Gradski Stadion, Ibon); 2 bye
MD4 - 1 vs 4 (Novi Kaunostadion, Thessia), 2 vs 3 (Gradski Stadion, Ibon); 5 bye
MD5 - 4 vs 2 (Novi Kaunostadion, Thessia), 5 vs 1 (Gradski Stadion, Ibon); 3 bye

GROUP E
Valladares (15)
Poais (UR)
Eastfield Lodge (32)
República Guanacasteca (21)
Eura (3)

Venues:
MD1 - 2 vs 5 (Stadion Yolanda Savic, Thessia), 3 vs 4 (Novi Zavej Park, Arsika); 1 bye
MD2 - 5 vs 3 (Radnika, Esca), 1 vs 2 (Novi Zavej Park, Arsika); 4 bye
MD3 - 3 vs 1 (Radnika, Esca), 4 vs 5 (Novi Zavej Park, Arsika); 2 bye
MD4 - 1 vs 4 (Stadion Yolanda Savic, Thessia), 2 vs 3 (Novi Zavej Park, Arsika); 5 bye
MD5 - 4 vs 2 (Stadion Yolanda Savic, Thessia), 5 vs 1 (Novi Zavej Park, Arsika); 3 bye

GROUP F
Río Oscuro (UR)
San Isidro Labrador (28)
Xinhua (25)
Nephara (5)
Pridnestrovia (9) [Trans-Dniesters]

Venues:
MD1 - 2 vs 5 (Kotrba, Esca), 3 vs 4 (Utcastadion, Stratenberg); 1 bye
MD2 - 5 vs 3 (Kotrba, Esca), 1 vs 2 (Utcastadion, Stratenberg); 4 bye
MD3 - 3 vs 1 (Kotrba, Esca), 4 vs 5 (Utcastadion, Stratenberg); 2 bye
MD4 - 1 vs 4 (Kotrba, Esca), 2 vs 3 (Utcastadion, Stratenberg); 5 bye
MD5 - 4 vs 2 (Kotrba, Esca), 5 vs 1 (Utcastadion, Stratenberg); 3 bye

GROUP G
Græntfjall (1)
Firinsymnia (UR)
Southwest Eastnorth (17)
Pasarga (12)
Captina Island (38)

Venues:
MD1 - 2 vs 5 (Novi Atletskistadion, Thessia), 3 vs 4 (Sokolovny, Esca); 1 bye
MD2 - 5 vs 3 (Stadion Yolanda Savic, Thessia), 1 vs 2 (Sokolovny, Esca); 4 bye
MD3 - 3 vs 1 (Novi Atletskistadion, Thessia), 4 vs 5 (Sokolovny, Esca); 2 bye
MD4 - 1 vs 4 (Novi Atletskistadion, Thessia), 2 vs 3 (Sokolovny, Esca); 5 bye
MD5 - 4 vs 2 (Novi Atletskistadion, Thessia), 5 vs 1 (Sokolovny, Esca); 3 bye

GROUP H
Savojarna (10)
Gnejs (24)
Three Golden Kingdoms (34)
Austroslovakia (UR)
Yuezhou (7)

Venues:
MD1 - 2 vs 5 (Stadion Prizren, Prizren), 3 vs 4 (Ribar, Trunca); 1 bye
MD2 - 5 vs 3 (Stadion Prizren, Prizren), 1 vs 2 (Ribar, Trunca); 4 bye
MD3 - 3 vs 1 (Stadion Yolanda Savic, Thessia), 4 vs 5 (Ribar, Trunca); 2 bye
MD4 - 1 vs 4 (Stadion Prizren, Prizren), 2 vs 3 (Ribar, Trunca); 5 bye
MD5 - 4 vs 2 (Stadion Prizren, Prizren), 5 vs 1 (Ribar, Trunca); 3 bye

SCHEDULE
14th December: Group stage MD1 - 2 v 5, 3 v 4, 1 bye
16th December: Group stage MD2 - 5 v 3, 1 v 2, 4 bye
18th December: Group stage MD3 - 3 v 1, 4 v 5, 2 bye
20th December: Group stage MD4 - 1 v 4, 2 v 3, 5 bye
22nd December: Group stage MD5 - 4 v 2, 5 v 1, 3 bye
30th December: Second Round - A1 v B2; C1 v D2; B1 v A2; D1 v C2; E1 v F2; G1 v H2; F1 v E2; H1 v G2
2nd January: Quarter finals - SR1 v SR2; SR3 v SR4; SR5 v SR6; SR7 v SR8
4th January: Semi-finals - QF1 v QF2; QF3 v QF4
5th January: 3rd/4th place play-off - Loser SF1 v Loser SF2
6th January: Copa Rushmori 38 final - Winner SF1 v Winner SF2

Cut-offs will occur between 20:00 - 22:00 GMT, unless otherwise indicated by the host.

This is the place to post all rosters and role-plays for this tournament. In your roster post please include the ever useful RP permissions box to let your opponents know what you're okay with them doing in their post-match RPs:

RP PERMISSIONS
If my opponent role-plays first they may:
Choose my goalscorers: Y/N
Godmod scoring events: Y/N
RP injuries to my players: Y/N
Godmod injuries to my players: Y/N
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Y/N
Hand out red cards to my players: Y/N
Godmod other events: Y/N

You may also include a style modifier between -5 (most defensive) and +5 (most attacking) which reflects your national team's style of football.

During the Copa Rushmori Gazeta Sporta will be collating nominees for a Team of the Tournament. The shortlist for this will be released following the semi-final stage of the tournament and there will be an interactive element where each user can select an eleven from the shortlisted players. The votes will then be tallied to create the Team of the Tournament, Gazeta Sporta (ie. me) will cast deciding votes in the event of any ties. Gazeta Sporta will also decide a Golden Ball winner for the tournament's best player from the final Team of the Tournament. Results for this will be released at the same time as the final scorination following the two day voting period after the semi-final stage of the competition. More information about the logistics of voting will be released with the scorination of the semi-final.

The two posts following this shall include a travel guide for supporters that wish to make the journey to Mytanija to support their team during the Copa Rushmori and a stadium/host city guide. The travel guide will cover a little bit of history as well as provide general information about Mytanija's geography and climate; transport links; and society and culture. The stadium/host city guide will provide more specific information about each host city and the stadiums the teams will be competing at.

Happy posting!

by **Mytanija** » Fri Dec 09, 2022 4:39 pm

MYTANIJA TRAVEL GUIDE

Welcome to the 38th Copa Rushmori in Mytanija! The FSM and government are delighted to be able to bring the tournament back to the country for the second time and hope to showcase Mytanija's development in the best light as the country continues its recovery from the Mytanar Conflict. Ana Mecava-Catic's government have invested in large-scale infrastructure projects to improve Mytanija's stadiums, their surrounding areas and transport links countrywide in the build-up to the tournament. This has resulted in an atmosphere of general optimism about Mytanija's future, as well as the national team's chances of success whilst playing on home soil during this tournament. This travel guide will provide a general overview of Mytanija's history; geography and climate; transport; and society and culture.

The last 100 years of Mytanija's history have been pretty tumultuous, with war and revolution characterising the country's experience over that period. Mytanija has run the full gamut of political arrangements, moving from absolute monarchy to parliamentary democracy to totalitarian dictatorship and then back to democracy again. At the start of those 100 years Mytanija was ruled by the Kombarov family, absolute monarchs that had united all of Mytanija's regions under their rule through conquest and subjugation. The Mytanar people were poor and essentially lived under what was a feudal system if they didn't live in one of Mytanija's larger cities. Eventually people tired of this situation and political theorists sprung up in Mytanar cities and began to agitate and organise for greater land and employment rights. Their ideas, propagated by the likes of Juri Tolic and Alex Util, spread across the country and created a more politically aware populace which increasingly leaned towards socialist ideas. The House of Kombarov refused to listen to the people's demands (and even the advice of prominent members of the ruling class), resulting in civil disobedience and rioting. The army and police attempted to quell the unrest but this quickly failed and the country found itself in the midst of a revolution. Attempts at establishing a constitutional monarchy came a little too late as hardliners took control, resulting in retribution against the ruling classes and the execution of those Kombarovs which hadn't fled the country.

Tolic and Util really came to the forefront of the country's politics in the aftermath of the revolution. Tolic was a member of the more hard-line faction, promoting policies such as a rapid industrialisation, a totalitarian state, collectivisation of agriculture and class-based violence and purges of those members of the former ruling classes which hadn't left Mytanija. Tolic rose to the position of Premier and whilst some of his policies were popular due to the improved standard of living they helped to create, people eventually tired of the authoritarian side of his regime. Alex Util was part of the more liberal socialist wing of the revolution and his debates with Tolic became the stuff of legend. As Tolic lost support of the government and people, support for Util rose and when Tolic mimicked the Kombarovs in ordering the military to crush dissent in various cities around the government Util moved against him. Tolic was killed by an unknown assassin and Util swept into power. His regime was more pragmatic, promoting a more open and transparent government and restructuring both politics and the economy to allow greater participation of the Mytanar people. Private actors became involved in the Mytanar economy and democratic elections were held for the first time. Alex Util is widely regarded as a Mytanar political hero, although he is maligned by some for being involved in both the revolution overthrowing the Kombarovs and the deposal of Tolic by some dependent on their political views (particularly in Zentria due to Tolic being Zentrian; but also by royalists across Zentria, Magevskaya, Nasto and Avnalia, although these are few in number).

The first democratic elections in Mytanija were won by Radnika, the big-tent centre-left party which was created in the wake of Util's premiership. Predrag Pamic became the first democratic leader of the country and held power for 15 years or three whole terms, before retiring from the political scene. Pamic oversaw years of unprecedented economic growth and opened Mytanija up to investment from abroad for the first time. He was also active in foreign policy, defending the rights of ethnic Mytanars in Pobedyvika against Citiz oppression. Pamic is regarded as another political hero in Mytanija and is one of few that is held in high regard in almost every Mytanar region due to the success he had. Mytanija emerged from his premiership with a much stronger economy, but his departure from the political scene left a vacuum of power at the top of Mytanar politics. Politicians struggled to follow Pamic and increasingly this resulted in ethnically divisive rhetoric as politicians looked to appeal for support in their home regions. The sort of thing which had largely been unimportant under socialism and when times were good under Pamic. This created the environment for the ambitious Natella Kalinina to lead a military coup, with her rule likened to a cross between the Kombarov's absolute monarchy and aspects of Tolic's socialism (for those the regime deemed deserving). Kalinina - a Zentrian born Magev - played upon the fears of the Zentrian Orthodox population of Mytanija, particularly strong in Zentria, Magevskaya, parts of Vojovitica, Nasto and Avnalia. This allowed her to implement discriminatory policies against those she and her followers considered undesirable, resulting in forced labour camps and planned famines in the regions of Thessia, Visoravna and Rauchnya.

Kalinina's rule was soon met with violent resistance from the ethnic groups/regions which were hit hardest by her policies, heralding the start of the Mytanar Conflict. Thessia and Visoravna were targets of her regime because they are more religiously diverse than the rest of the country, with Catholic, Jewish and Islamic communities all living side-by-side; whilst the devoutly Catholic Rauchnya had been a traditional subject of persecution due to their fierce resistance to attempts to establish the Zentrian Orthodox Church in the region. Kalinina was a strong proponent of the Zentrian Orthodox religious tradition and responded to resistance by establishing concentration camps to intern those who regime identified as undesirable. This included Thessians, Visoravs and Rauchiks, but also extended to left-wing academics and activists, the LGBT+ community and gypsies and millions died at the hands of Kalinina's regime during the Mytanar Conflict because of both combat and ethnic/social cleansing. Events in Mytanija didn't go unnoticed across Rushmore and eventually Euran intervention - combined with the efforts of the Otpor (Mytanar resistance) on the ground - resulted in the overthrow of the Kalinina regime. Kalinina fled to Sargossa and was eventually caught by Otpor agents, notably Elita Ryzaev, and extradited to Eura to face a court due to crimes against humanity for the genocidal policies she had enacted during the Mytanar Conflict. Many in Zentria, Magevskaya, parts of Vojovitica and Nasto and Avnalia supported her rule which has made the reconciliation process so difficult.

Following the Mytanar Conflict a provisional government was established to try and get the country back on its feet following Kalinina's rule. This was a largely technocratic body led by Bruno Petric and their remit was to organise the rebuilding of the country following the Mytanar Conflict. Euran economic support helped in this and allowed the repair of old infrastructure as well as the construction of some new pieces too. The rule of the provisional government ended when Petric called democratic elections with the desire for a return to 'normal' politics growing across the country. This election resulted in an unexpected victory for left-wing populist party Jedinstvo and greens Ekologija. The pair went into coalition after performing extremely well in comparison to the old parties (both the conservative MNK and centre-left Radnika), with Jedinstvo leader Ana Mecava-Catic being made Premier. That brings us up to the present day, with Mecava-Catic's government continuing with the investment in infrastructure started by the provisional government and nationalising healthcare in the country. A second election victory for the coalition government allowed them to further bolster their policy agenda and by bringing the Copa Rushmori to Mytanar soil for the third time Mecava-Catic is hoping to reinforce her chances of a third term as Premier in the upcoming election - where the slower growth of the last couple of years is likely to come under scrutiny, along with a slightly fractured coalition relationship with Ekologija.

Given the proliferation of modern air travel, getting to Mytanija should be relatively easy for the Copa Rushmori. The vast majority of international flights will arrive in either Esca International Airport or Thessia Alex Util Airport, although it is likely that most major Rushmori cities will also have the odd flight to Prizren International each week also. Put simply, flying to Mytanija is straightforward and will be the main method for supporters to travel to the tournament.

Once landed, onward travel from the major airports may be necessary and this can be done by domestic air travel. Tickets for domestic air travel can be purchased online with a number of operators.

Tickets tend to be relatively expensive, particularly when compared to the price of rail fares for example. Planes used for domestic flights will tend to be quite old and cramped, but flight times will be quick (~0.5-2hrs) and domestic flights are the recommended method of travel for supporters trying to get from the major airports in Esca, Thessia and Prizren to games in Arsika given the favourable journey time compared to the identical route(s) on the rail network.

For most supporters the primary method of travel will be by train. Železnice Mytanija (Mytanar Rail, whose logo can be seen to the right, all stations will have a large sign outside featuring the logo and the station name), is the state-owned rail company that operates the rail network within the country. Tickets are generally cheap and quite flexible and the trains operate regularly, with major routes often running services every 30-45 minutes. The trains are modern and major routes are all high-speed, benefiting from the enormous investment in the country's transport infrastructure during the provisional government and under Ana Mecava-Catic. Rail stations in Mytanija tend to be quite ostentatious with grand entrances and works of art and murals lining the walls, a relic of the Tolic, Util and Kalinina regimes. The stations boast many amenities including bars and restaurants and are generally kept clean and in good working order. Here are some journey times as a guide:

Esca-Thessia: 2hr30min; Esca-Miago: 2hr; Esca-Decraa: 1hr45min; Esca-Prizren: 2hr30min; Esca-Trunca: 2hr; Esca-Arsika: 6hr

Thessia-Ibon: 45min; Thessia-Cassia: 1hr45min; Thessia-Ebor: 2hr30min; Thessia-Decraa: 1hr30min; Thessia-Miago: 1hr45min; Thessia-Prizren: 2hr45min

Ebor-Snezhnaya: 1hr45min

Prizren-Miago: 1hr; Prizren-Decraa: 1hr15min

Some fans might choose to take domestic flights to get to matches in Arsika and domestic flights or ferry travel are the only way to reach matches in Stratenberg. Some may choose to hire private vehicles (cars and coaches), in order to do this the driver must present their national driver's licence and a foreign driver permit to the rental company. This permit can be obtained online and simply confirms that the driver has been tested to the standard required by the Mytanar driving test. Mytanija has a reciprocal recognition arrangement with many Rushmori countries for this, so it is not particularly prohibitive. Private vehicles may be convenient supporters which plan to be in Mytanija for multiple matches or the entire tournament and will suit supporters' clubs/groups which plan to arrive to matches in a large group. Mytanar Autoput (ie. motorways/interstate highways) roads are not the best outside routes between major cities (eg. Esca-Thessia, Esca-Prizren, Thessia-Prizren). Driving is a good way to see the natural beauty of Mytanija, though, so for travellers for whom time is not prohibitive it could be a great way to travel around the country. It should be noted that traffic in Mytanija drives on the left and almost all vehicles in the country will possess manual transmission gearboxes, will run on petrol or diesel and tend to be older models than many travellers may be used to.

Historically Mytanars have felt a greater attachment to their local region than to Mytanija as a whole, although this is slowly changing with the nation's relatively young population beginning to demonstrate the opposite feeling according to polls conducted by Prizren's Kavka University. This regionalism is reflected in the proliferation of regional languages, with each having their own. These are largely mutually intelligible, with a rough translation in Zentrian, Thessian and Vojovitican giving you a similar result in any of the other two. Visoravs and Rauchiks speak their own languages but these are also mutually intelligible. In Nasto they speak Avnali, a language which spread across Mytanija's southern islands from the trio of islands known as Avnalia. In Magevskaya they speak Magev and this is probably the most unusual of the Mytanar languages, although may bear some resemblance to what some call Russian. Usually Mytanars in Visoravna and Rauchnya will understand Thessian due to their proximity to Thessia, with those in Nasto and Avnalia having a good understanding of Zentrian due to the cultural closeness between those regions. Mytanars are increasingly able to speak Azertienne and English too.

Despite being officially secular religion is important in Mytanija with many being proud of their beliefs and fiercely devout, particularly in rural areas. The Zentrian Orthodox branch of Christianity is most popular in Zentria, Magevskaya and Nasto and Avnalia; with some reach in certain parts of Vojovitica. Catholicism is more popular in Thessia, Vojovitica, Visoravna and Rauchnya. Thessia is the most religiously diverse region, with thriving Islamic and Jewish communities living alongside Catholics. The Great Mosque and Avdivedjic Synagogue in the city of Thessia are the biggest Islamic and Jewish places of worship in Mytanija. There is a large Jewish community in Prizren too. Mytanar Muslims tend to wear shaylas or hijabs if they wear any head coverings at all. Increasingly Mytanar young people describe themselves as irreligious or atheist.

Mytanija is currently a fairly liberal, economically centre-left nation. There is an ongoing peace and reconciliation process following the Mytanar Conflict and although regional tension is at a relatively low level it can spark up occasionally. It is legal to drink alcohol aged 16 and cannabis is legal and commonly seen. There is no smoking ban in public areas, which perhaps makes it no surprise that Mytanija's number one health issue is an extremely high incidence of respiratory disease. Purchasing firearms is theoretically difficult due to strict gun laws, but due to how recently the Mytanar Conflict was there is a thriving black market with all sorts of weaponry available depending on who you know. Discriminatory language based on ethnicity/regional identity/religion is dealt with harshly by law given how recently the Mytanar Conflict was, but it will still be common to hear certain slurs among older generations. There are some growing Black communities in Mytanija's large cities, generally made-up of Ketioulais, Djocorangan or Mwembamban migrants. Mytanar cities are accepting of these communities, although there is occasional colour-based racism in more rural locales and among those with right-wing beliefs (including some football teams' ultras groups).

Mytanija's music scene is dominated by Otskok, characterised by its repetitive electronic beats and occasional spoken word lyrics it is regarded as a mixture between old and new and can be heard thumping in many Mytanar inner-city neighbourhoods. There is also a thriving indie scene with guitar bands fronted by waifish singers extremely popular, the likes of The Aurora, Aquamarine and The Pink Skies have historically done well across Rushmore. In terms of the arts and literature there are many reputable Mytanars that have been enormously skilled in both areas: artists include Akavov, Etcepin, Jovac-Savic and Zlaticanin and their works can be seen at galleries all over the country. There have been many wondrous Mytanar wordsmiths down the years, the most well known is perhaps Dorde Arsic, the creator of the seminal Laertiades a story about the day-in-the-life of a number of protagonists who lived in Thessia, there is also Evgeny Pivec, the dystopian novelist, as well as modern writer Anastasija Darkovic, known for her feminist allegories. Mytanar cuisine is rich and varied given the quality of soil available in some parts of the country. There is reliance on sheep and goats in Thessia meaning lamb and mutton are popular; those in coastal areas of Visoravna, Rauchnya and Nasto enjoy excellent seafood; whilst in Avnalia there is a heavily vegetable-based diet. There is increasing choice in Mytanar cities with the proliferation of international restaurants and you would be as likely to find restaurants preparing pizzas, poutine or kraken as you would traditional Mytanar stews, baklava or burek.

by **Mytanija** » Fri Dec 09, 2022 4:40 pm

HOST CITY GUIDE

This guide should provide more information about each host city and the stadiums the teams will be playing at. The stadium list provides a simple overview of what each stadium is called, the city it is based in and the larger region that this city is in. Teams and supporters are advised to consult this list first, before then looking under the appropriate region tab/s to find more specific detail about the host city/cities and stadium/s they will be attending.

Stadiums sorted by region

EBOR

Ebor is a city of around 2 million people located on the far north coast of Mytanija, in the region of Visoravna. Ebor experiences a warmer climate than most of the country, with hot, sunny summers and mild, wet winters. There are some outstanding beaches located nearby, Ebor has experienced something of a tourist boom in the years since the Mytanar Conflict, with holidaymakers from around Rushmore visiting to take advantage of the beautiful white sand beaches and crystal clear waters. Perhaps the most iconic thing about the city is its white, terracotta-roofed buildings, built for the sunny conditions the city experiences during summer. Ebor has an important port, with many large ships docking to transport goods to and from the city. It was an important city in the resistance against Kalinina's forces during the Mytanar Conflict, too, with many considering it to be the first place that the Otpor were able to rally and begin to turn the tide of the Conflict against the dictator.

Notable attractions: Marjan Cathedral, Historic Old Town and Palace of Domnius, Mosor Street, Ebor Marina, Davecka Beach

OLUJASTADION

Location: Luka Ebora, Ebor, Visoravna
Capacity: 42,500
Tenants: 1896 Ebor
Hosting: MD 1 - Group B 2 v 5; MD 2 - Group B 5 v 3; MD 3 - Group B 3 v 1; MD 4 - Group B 1 v 4; MD 5 - Group B 4 v 2; Second Round - B1 v A2; Quarter Final - SR3 v SR4

The Olujastadion is based in the less beautiful port area of Ebor, not exactly like the picture postcard area around the Old Town which is where tourists generally visit, but it still makes for an interesting backdrop to the football. Games here will be played out in hot conditions and players may need to take water breaks in order to be fully comfortable and safe. The Olujastadion is a stadium that has been around basically as long as football has been played in Mytanija, it is the same ground that 1896 Ebor have always played in and as such the supporters here have a significant emotional attachment to the stadium. The people of Ebor tend to be reliant on tourism for jobs and are therefore extremely open to foreigners, although they will be all too ready to make a quick buck if they feel they can.

It should be noted that organised crime gangs are significantly active in Ebor and travellers should therefore be vigilant, it is unlikely that gangs will do anything to harm ordinary tourists and are more likely to be found fighting each other in turf wars over where they're allowed to sell drugs. The Policija have cracked down on gangs in Ebor during the run-up to the tournament, but it is almost certain dealers will find a way to sell their product during the tournament given the desire of football fans to celebrate positive results.

SNEZHNAYA

Snezhnaya is a port town located on the northern coast of Visoravna and as such has a beautiful coastline and a warm climate in summer. In winter it is exposed to extremely windy conditions along with no small amount of rain. Snezhnaya is reliant on fishing for a lot of jobs, although the town is establishing itself as a centre for modern technology as well, with many companies wanting to be based there as the town is a fairly blank canvas ripe for development. Historically Snezhnaya has been known as the poorer sibling of Ebor to its west and not as strategically important as Gornaya-Mesnost to the south, but it is quickly becoming an attractive city for young people to live in as it receives investment. Near the port area of the town is still as charming as it ever was with the squat white-walled homes of residents remaining even if multi-storey glass and steel buildings are sprouting up further inland. It is the only city outside Mytanija's largest eleven which is hosting a match, with a population of 500,000 people Snezhnaya is down at 17th largest but the size of the stadium and its proximity to Ebor allowed it to be selected for this tournament.

Notable attractions: Fishermen's Square, Snezhnaya Maritime Museum

ARKA PARK

Location: Pristaniza, Snezhnaya, Visoravna
Capacity: 32,000
Tenants: Arka Snezhnaya
Hosting: MD 1 - Group B 3 v 4; MD 2 - Group B 1 v 2; MD 3 - Group B 4 v 5; MD 4 - Group B 2 v 3; MD 5 - Group B 5 v 1

Arka Park was once one of the most cutting-edge stadiums in Mytanija, it's still very serviceable but it has now been put into the shade by some of the newer constructions around the country. It is pictured with some very rare snow, something which is extremely unlikely to occur during the Copa Rushmori given that the tournament is being played in Mytanar summer. The shape and positioning of the stands can make for a very loud atmosphere as they are close to the pitch and quite steep which allows the noise of the crowd to echo around the stadium. Any nations with particularly loud support will relish competing at this stadium for that reason.

Snezhnaya is a city which is considered by locals to be a bit of a hidden secret. Whilst Ebor - under two hours away by train - is much more popular with foreign nationals, those Mytanars which can afford to holiday during summer tend to prefer Snezhnaya for its slower pace and quieter atmosphere. Locals are very happy to have tourists in the city, it provides them with additional forms of income and in recent years a greater number of hotels, bars, cafes and restaurants have sprung up. This is probably easier to do when you don't have the issues with organised crime that Ebor has, there's nobody asking for protection money when you just want to sell a few coffees or burgers in Snezhnaya. Petty crime will also be very low compared to other Mytanar cities.

CASSIA

Cassia is a city with a population of around 1 million and is the largest city in the region of Rauchnya. It has a reputation for being the slightly more serious older sibling to the city of Severyan just across the region, with Cassia being focused on the machinations of industry and acting as a hub of regional politics whereas Severyan prefers to focus its energies on huge festivals and carnivals. Cassia is characterised by its busy shipping port and heavy industry, with it being a centre for steel-making and locomotive building. Rauchik people can be quite cold to outsiders due to historic persecution within Mytanija (and indeed Cassia's big football team Lok. Cassia have a big Rauchik nationalist ultras group which are militantly opposed to those they consider foreign, something which is sometimes claimed to be a defence mechanism), but most are also warm to those who treat them well and tourists who come to Cassia and try to make an effort with locals will be greatly appreciated. Supporters may choose to visit Severyan during the tournament, it is only 45 minutes away from Cassia and will provide a different - and perhaps more lively - experience to that which they may have in Cassia itself.

Notable attractions: Church of Saint Hieronymus the Blind, Isonzo Park

STADION CASSIA

Location: Krajnc, Cassia, Rauchnya
Capacity: 22,000
Tenants: Lok. Cassia
Hosting: MD 1 - Group A 2 v 5; MD 2 - Group A 1 v 2; MD 3 - Group A 4 v 5; MD 4 - Group A 1 v 4; MD 5 - Group A 5 v 1

A stadium which has been newly built for the Copa Rushmori the Stadion Cassia occupies one of Cassia's more modern neighbourhoods, Krajnc. It replaced Lok. Cassia's decrepit Metrostad for Copa Rushmori 38 and the two grounds could not be more different. Where the Metrostad had rotting wood and crumbling concrete the Stadion Cassia is mostly brand new steel constructed nearby. Local government have long wanted to mitigate the city's heavy industry with newer neighbourhoods which offer plenty of green space for the city's youthful population to grow up in and the areas around the Stadion Cassia have been designed with this in mind. A number of new schools have also been built as pre-tournament regeneration has taken place and foreign supporters may see students playing a part in the pre-match events or availing of free tickets to see a game or two.

Petty crime can be an issue in Cassia, with Rauchnya being the poorest region of the country and people sometimes struggling to make ends meet. Travelling fans are advised to be careful with personal items in and around the stadium, although a large Policija presence should hopefully keep incidents to a minimum.

THESSIA

Thessia is Mytanija's most populous city, with around 5 million inhabitants and is considered by some (mostly Thessians!), to be the 'true capital' of the country. It is an extremely accepting place, with people of all religions calling the city home. It is a particularly important city with regards to culture, many of the most famous Mytanar writers, artists and particularly musicians were born in the city and it was in fact named the first ever Rushmori Capital of Culture. Thessians will welcome tourists with open arms and many will even be willing to put travellers up for free if they are stuck for accommodation. Thessia has a bit of an counter-culture spirit with the city being persecuted during the reign of Natella Kalinina and it was an Otpor stronghold during the Mytanar Conflict, with the resistance in the city being extremely fierce. It remains proud of the fact that Kalinina's forces could never take the city. This spirit continues today with the city being extremely united in the face of any forms of ethnic tension, racism or religious bigotry, as it has always been an example of how people of different ethnic groups and religions can get on alongside each other in Mytanija. The city is the birthplace of otskok, a style of music that is now ubiquitous across Mytanija, with repetitive beats similar to techno, spoken word artists often compose lyrics to speak over the top of the music and has been a national phenomenon for a while now.

Notable attractions: The Walls of Thessia, Husreva Market, The Great Mosque, Avdivedjic Synagogue, The Thessia Football Museum

NOVI ATLETSKISTADION

Location: Zenit Toranj, Thessia, Thessia
Capacity: 67,000
Tenants: Atletik Thessia
Hosting: MD 1 - Group G 2 v 5; MD 2 - Group A 5 v 3; MD 3 - Group G 3 v 1; MD 4 - Group G 1 v 4; MD 5 - Group G 4 v 2; Second Round - G1 v H2; Quarter Final - SR5 v SR6; Semi Final - QF1 v QF2

Atletik supporters were not best pleased when they left their spiritual home for the shiny Novi Atletskistadion across the neighbourhood, but the ground has fast become a favourite among supporters of other teams due to its improved amenities and Atletik fans are coming around to the idea now too. Located on an old industrial unit in Zenit Toranj, the stadium is close by the Avdivedjic Synagogue (which can be seen high on the hill in the background of the image to the left). The Zenit Toranj area the stadium is located in is a traditionally an extremely working class area, with the people here having a deep left-wing radical tradition, intertwined with libertarian thought when it comes to socio-cultural issues.

Zenit Toranj is increasingly being gentrified, with students and young professionals moving into the area given its reputation for being cool and hip, although locals are resisting fairly successfully against losing the heart and soul of the area. The neighbourhood's gay village is a great example of this, with companies attempting to set-up bars within the area and the local LGBT+ community and others coming together to resist any encroachment onto what they considered a highly independent space. Thessia is a city with many contrasting cultures living close to each other and generally getting on well with Catholics, Muslims and Jews all living side-by-side along with a growing amount of non-religious people.

NOVI KAUNOSTADION

Location: Zenit Toranj, Thessia, Thessia
Capacity: 54,000
Tenants: Olympic Thessia
Hosting: MD 1 - Group D 2 v 5; MD 2 - Group D 5 v 3; MD 3 - Group D 3 v 1; MD 4 - Group D 1 v 4; MD 5 - Group D 4 v 2; Second Round - D1 v C2

The Novi Kaunostadion is also located in the Zenit Toranj area of Thessia, at the other end from Atletik's stadium and catchment area. This part of Zenit Toranj is more industrialised than the 'Atletik end', but the people share the outlook of their neighbours from up the road, being fiercely left-wing and liberal. The only real divide between people in Thessia is which football team they support (and boy can it cause problems!). Tourists will note the almost identikit nature of the blocks around the Novi Kaunostadion, which was built on the site of Olympic's old ground the aptly named 'Kaunostadion'. This is due to the fact that this area was almost carpet bombed during the Siege of Thessia and there was a need to rebuild quickly following the Mytanar Conflict, this led to a fairly blanket approach being taken to get new homes erected as quick as possible.

The architecture may not be as appealing as other parts of Zenit Toranj and indeed Thessia more widely but the street layouts are quite interesting, with straight lines on major routes giving way to a rabbit warren of alleyways and paths once you pass into the courtyards and thoroughfares inside the housing blocks.

STADION YOLANDA SAVIC

Location: Caleta, Thessia, Thessia
Capacity: 25,000
Tenants: NK Thessia
Hosting: MD 1 - Group E 2 v 5; MD 2 - Group G 5 v 3; MD 3 - Group H 3 v 1; MD 4 - Group E 1 v 4; MD 5 - Group E 4 v 2

A stadium named after one of Mytanija's greatest Olympians. Pole vaulter Yolanda Savic won Olympic gold with an Olympic record of 5.05 metres in the event and the people back home in her native Thessia decided to name this stadium after her for her achievements. Various sections of the NK Thessia sports club compete at the stadium, including its football and athletics departments (Yolanda Savic at one time being a member of the latter) and other sporting venues occupy the areas around it including tennis courts and a velodrome. Stadion Yolanda Savic is located in the Caleta neighbourhood of the city, it has a real mixture of residential working and middle class areas and the stadium acts as a little bit of a focal point for them all. Thessia's Great Mosque is around ten minutes away.

As with many venues there is a risk of petty crime at the Stadion Yolanda Savic. Thessia is a city which attracts a large number of foreign tourists every year so whilst you're unlikely to hear insults about that there may be some unscrupulous individuals who try to take advantage of a tourist in an unfamiliar city. Pickpockets will take their chances and taxi drivers may attempt to over-charge those that aren't in the know, although the city's tram system is probably the best way to get around Thessia and helps you to avoid the second scenario.

IBON

Ibon is a Mytanija's tenth largest city with a population of around 1 million people. It is most famous for its textiles industry, cotton is transported en masse to the city and transformed into items that are sold all over Mytanija and Rushmore. It's an enormously industrial city, with not too much in the way of culture, but it is also located in a pretty scenic location. The area around the city is extremely hilly and whilst the city itself may be an industrialised smogfest, the surrounding areas allow nature to take back control. Many people from the city take weekend breaks in lodges in the hills to escape the polluted air. The city's population is a mixture of middle-class and working-class people. A lot of the natives of the city are middle-class business owners, with people who migrate to the city for work finding themselves on lower wages working in the city's factories, cotton mills or coal power plants. Ibon is known as 'the city of all industries', because it is such an important industrial centre. Textiles is the main one, but you name it and they do it in Ibon: automobiles and aerospace, pharmaceuticals, steel are big employers in the city just to name a few. People from Ibon have a huge rivalry with people from the city of Thessia with the two historically battling for dominance of the region, you can tell probably tell who won that argument by the region being called Thessia.

Notable attractions: Uvala Cotton Mills, Gerzovo National Park

GRADSKI STADION

Location: Mlin, Ibon, Thessia
Capacity: 25,000
Tenants: Tekstil Ibon
Hosting: MD 1 - Group D 3 v 4; MD 2 - Group D 1 v 2; MD 3 - Group D 4 v 5; MD 4 - Group D 2 v 3; MD 5 - Group D 5 v 1

Gradski Stadion is one of Mytanija's oldest grounds and is pretty much in the same state as when it was first built except for the addition of a roof over part of its main stand. It has undergone an expansion of 5,000 seats and been given a fresh lick of paint in the run-up to this tournament, but it hasn't received the same treatment as some of the other grounds (such as CDSA's Psenicova, or Lok. Cassia's brand new stadium). It is located in a residential area of the city, a little bit away from Ibon's industrial centre, but this should be advantageous to players as they won't have to deal with the more polluted area there. The stadium is open to the elements and this be risky in the region of Thessia because the mountains in the west of the region can cause a lot of orographic precipitation. The Copa Rushmori is being played in summer, so the worst of this should be avoided, but there's always the chance of changeable conditions.

The people of Ibon are quite friendly to foreigners, sharing a lot of the same beliefs as their neighbours from Thessia, just don't tell them that Thessia is the superior place and you'll get along with them fine. Issues with crime are generally lower in Ibon than in some of Mytanija's larger cities.

ESCA

Esca is the capital of Mytanija and is located in central Zentria, it has a population of roughly 3.5 million people. Esca is the seat of government of Mytanija and is where the House of Representatives and Premijerska Palata (the residence of the Premier) are located and as such is an important political centre for the country. It holds a similar position within the world of commerce, with major Rushmori banks having sub-regional headquarters and outposts in the city. As the nation's capital, Esca is generally exposed to a lot of foreign nationals and generally the attitude of locals towards foreign people will be one of openness. For the most part locals will be all too happy to help with directions or to advise on the best place to get a bite to eat, particularly in areas such as Centralni and Litala. Naturally there are some areas where this will not be the case, such as the working class Votavova area of the capital where people may be slightly more suspicious of tourists. The city has a big wealth-gap, with some areas being extremely rich and others being very poor, this contrast is noticeable because of just how far apart the areas are in terms of standard of living. Crime is a problem in the capital, with organised criminal gangs (i.e. different Mafiya groups), running certain entertainment venues such as bars and clubs. Petty criminals operate in tourist areas and travellers should be aware of this and should remain vigilant to guard against pickpockets and thieves who may steal phones, wallets, bags and purses.

Notable attractions: Premijerska Palata, House of Representatives, Liberation Square, Kalemova Park, Church of Saint Slava

RADNIKA

Location: Centralni, Esca, Zentria
Capacity: 60,000
Tenants: Mytanar national team and 1923 Esca
Hosting: MD 1 - Group A 3 v 4; MD 2 - Group E 5 v 3; MD 3 - Group E 3 v 1; MD 4 - Group A 2 v 3; MD 5 - Group A 4 v 2; Second Round - E1 v F2; Quarter Final - SR1 v SR 2; 3rd/4th place play-off; Copa Rushmori 38 Final

Located in the grounds of Kalemova Park in the Centralni area of the capital, Radnika is the nominal national stadium and is where the Mytanar national team play most of their games, even despite the FSM's recent tendency to move games around the country, ostensibly to gain an advantage by playing games in venues further from the capital where the atmosphere may be a little more hostile. Radnika is a modern arena built for the big occasion, though and will play an important part in this Copa Rushmori as it plays host to the opening ceremony, three group games and the Final of the tournament. It is considered by some to be the jewel in the crown of Mytanar football and those supporters visiting the stadium will be welcomed by guides, the Policija and even local fans who will all try their best to make their visitors trip as enjoyable as possible.

Supporters will be able to take in the fresh air in the largest inner-city park in Mytanija before and after games and could even have a picnic or a couple of beers in the sunshine, as locals often do. Kalemova Park is a small oasis in the middle of Esca and it is a nice place to take a break from the hustle and bustle of city life. It can even be easy to forget that you are actually in one the nation's capital after a while!

KOTRBA

Location: Votavova, Esca, Zentria
Capacity: 55,000
Tenants: Dinamo Esca
Hosting: MD 1 - Group F 2 v 5; MD 2 - Group F 5 v 3; MD 3 - Group F 3 v 1; MD 4 - Group F 1 v 4; MD 5 - Group F 4 v 2; Second Round - F1 v E2

Those that want a real taste of Mytanija may choose to go to a game at Kotrba, a deeply historic venue in Mytanar football, located in the Votavova. The Votavova is one of the poorest areas of the capital and as such the population here has built up some deep left-wing traditions, with trade unionism being enormously important to the area. Some claim it was the birthplace of communism in Mytanija, too, although this is something that is certainly up for debate. The people in this area of the capital may tend to be a little more suspicious of foreigners than in Centralni or Litala. Crime can be an issue in the area, but the Policija have been advised to be especially vigilant, given the desire for the tournament to be a success and to give off a good impression of the country to the rest of Rushmore.

The stadium is a little older than most of the other stadiums that have been chosen to host games in the Copa Rushmori, but it has been given a fresh lick of paint for the tournament and a new pitch has been laid in the hope that the playing surface is up to the standards of the world class players that will compete upon it. FSM groundskeeping staff have worked around the clock in the run up to the tournament to ensure the turf is bedded in, in order to reduce the chances of it cutting up as soon as a ball is kicked.

SOKOLOVNY

Location: Litala, Esca, Zentria
Capacity: 30,000
Tenants: Litala ’93
Hosting: MD 1 - Group G 3 v 4; MD 2 - Group G 1 v 2; MD 3 - Group G 4 v 5; MD 4 - Group G 2 v 3; MD 5 - Group G 5 v 1

Sokolovny is best known for its lavender seats, a product of the main colour of the team which plays there Litala ’93. It is an old-fashioned square ground with stands close to the pitch and large standing areas behind each goal. This can make it quite an atmospheric stadium and many Mytanar supporters are very fond of it for this reason. Litala ’93 are a another club with contrarian political instincts and this can be seen in the numerous murals which are painted across the walls of buildings around the stadium. Many have political messages or depict famous heroes scoring key goals. Recently Yue political exile Wang Jiahui has called the place home and written himself into the club's folklore and that mixture of sport and politics is intertwined throughout the club's history.

Litala is a slightly better off area of the capital and locals will only be too happy to direct tourists the right way if they need assistance, if they aren't trying to convert you to their political view first. Crime will be a little lower here than in the Votavova neighbourhood of Esca, but there will always be those that try in the capital and given the price of everything in Esca compared to prices in other Mytanar cities you might feel like you're being robbed sometimes anyway.

TRUNCA

Trunca is Mytanija's eleventh largest city with a population of around 750,000 people. That number used to be a fair bit higher, but the city has suffered from a serious decline since the Mytanar Conflict. During that civil war Trunca was on the receiving end of a pretty serious carpet bombing by the Eurans and the city's famous bridge was destroyed. Bruno Petric's provisional government often wondered what to do with the city, there wasn't much to rebuild and many inhabitants had either died during the Conflict or had fled. Its population has recovered somewhat since and its bustling port is beginning to return to normal usage levels, with a new underwater train link to Istina on the island of Nasto being completed just in time for the Copa Rushmori. This connects Esca with Arsika with a six hour journey time and Ana Mecava-Catic's government hope that it will help to regenerate Trunca given that it is a crucial stop on the journey. The majority of Truncan people are adherents of the Zentrian Orthodox branch of Christianity and two of the city's main churches managed to withstand the bombing of Trunca during the Mytanar Conflict, leading to them becoming sites of genuine religious significance in Mytanija.

Notable attractions: Temple of Saint Jovan Kandulic, Church of Marija Tereza, the New Port

RIBAR

Location: Ribar, Trunca, Zentria
Capacity: 25,000
Tenants: Pamuk Trunca
Hosting: MD 1 - Group H 3 v 4; MD 2 - Group H 1 v 2; MD 3 - Group H 4 v 5; MD 4 - Group H 2 v 3; MD 5 - Group H 5 v 1;

Ribar is named for the city's once thriving fishing industry, another thing which took an absolute beating when the Eurans bombed the city to bits. Pretty much all vessels in the city's port were scuttled to prevent their usage and it is something which has punitively affected the city ever since. The football team which call Ribar home are named for the city's cotton growers, leading to a sometimes confusing combination about who the club is meant to represent but Pamuk have become the team of the whole city over the years and that is reflected in how they try to appeal to everybody. This version of Ribar has been expanded and renovated extensively, although the stadium did have to undergo significant rebuilding following the Mytanar Conflict anyway. This does mean that the stadium is quite modern, with its new triple-tiered main stand being the most impressive part of the new stadium layout.

Ribar is located in a redeveloped area of the city, a little inland from Trunca's port area. The area around the stadium will be turned into a fan park for the duration of the tournament, playing host to fans who cannot get tickets to matches but also screening all other games from the tournament aside from the ones played at the stadium. Locals may be a little uncomfortable with foreigners and there could be some underlying xenophobic attitudes among some.

STRATENBERG

Stratenberg is a large city of 1.5 million people located on the island of Magevskaya to mainland Mytanija's north-east. Stratenberg is the capital of the region of Magevskaya and the vast majority of the region's population call the city home. Stratenberg is an important business and commercial hub for Mytanija, with a number of banks calling the city home or having large secondary bases in the city aside from the ones they might have in Esca. It is an affluent city and also plays home to the prestigious Rose League school Stratenberg University, one of the oldest education institutions in Mytanija. Stratenberg's wealth has allowed the city to undergo enormous modernisation, with lots of high-rise glass and steel buildings going up in recent years. Magevs are usually adherents to the Zentrian Orthodox branch of Christianity and largely sided with Kalinina's regime during the Mytanar Conflict, although younger generations are altering this as they move away from the political beliefs of their parents and grandparents, with a thriving left-wing political scene among the city's young people.

Notable attractions: Ushakov Castle, Central Park of Culture and Leisure, Brazhinsky Theatre

UTCASTADION

Location: Pushkin, Stratenberg, Magevskaya
Capacity: 26,000
Tenants: FK Magevskaya
Hosting: MD 1 - Group F 3 v 4; MD 2 - Group F 1 v 2; MD 3 - Group F 4 v 5; MD 4 - Group F 2 v 3; MD 5 - Group F 5 v 1;

Located in the thriving inner-city Pushkin neighbourhood the Utcastadion is a real marvel and plays host to the FK Magevskaya football team, but also being the venue for the sports club's basketball, handball, ice hockey and volleyball departments due to the indoor arena which sits within the stadium. It is named after the football team's legend Nyar Utca. The stadium is extremely new, only being a few years old, with the government providing funds for a small expansion to cater for the extra demand for tickets likely to be seen at the Copa Rushmori. Foreign supporters will note how the stadium has been paired with Kotrba in Esca during the group stage to make it easier to travel between the two cities for games. Magevskaya being an island does mean it can be a little difficult to get to, but the pairing with an Esca stadium is deliberate as it should allow fans to fly from the the capital into Stratenberg for matches.

Locals may be a little indifferent towards travelling supporters, with many older people probably preferring if they weren't coming given their slightly xenophobic beliefs. Younger citizens of Stratenberg will be extremely helpful, trying to move away from what they see as the errors of the older generations. Crime rates are quite low in the city and there won't be as many issues with pickpockets and scammers as in other places.

ARSIKA

Arsika is the largest city on the island of Nasto, located off the southern coast of mainland Mytanija. Arsika has a population of around 1 million people and is an important commercial centre for Nasto and Avnalia. It has a large port and this is crucial in the transport of goods to and from Nasto, both in domestic and international freight. Arsika is a city that is modernising quickly, trying to build on its position as the biggest city in Nasto and Avnalia and it is a popular city with young people. Students have increasingly chosen to call Arsika home ahead of more traditional university cities like Prizren and Thessia. Its warmer weather, combined with the young population and reputation as a bit of a party city are believed to be behind this. Guinec, the most popular Mytanar beer, is brewed in the city and can be found in any bar or pub in Arsika. Otolek Gaol is a slightly haunting place, being the prison of would-be revolutionaries dating back to the Kombarov Monarchy and Natella Kalinina continued that by jailing a number of Otpor leaders in the Gaol during her time in power.

Notable attractions: Uta-Vaja Bridge, Otolek Gaol, Guinec Brewery, Saint Stevan's Cathedral, Museum of Modern Art

NOVI ZAVEJ PARK

Location: Beloma, Arsika, Nasto and Avnalia
Capacity: 30,000
Tenants: FK Arsika
Hosting: MD 1 - Group E 3 v 4; MD 2 - Group E 1 v 2; MD 3 - Group E 4 v 5; MD 4 - Group E 2 v 3; MD 5 - Group E 5 v 1

Novi Zavej Park was newly built for the first Copa Rushmori Mytanija hosted all the way back in the 31st edition of the tournament and the area around the stadium has benefited from that with an enormous regeneration and modernisation programme completely changing the face of the area. Novi Zavej Park is the only stadium hosting games in either of Mytanija's southern islands, with some in Avnalia being annoyed that their stadiums have been overlooked. This decision was largely arrived at because the organising committee did not believe any towns in Avnalia could cope with the large influx of tourists the Copa Rushmori would bring. Arsika has no such problem, with a forward-thinking outlook and attitude and a fast-growing population it regularly competes with Ebor one of the main coastal holiday destinations in Mytanija. Novi Zavej Park is another steel-and-glass stadium, with the Beloma area around the stadium playing host to lots of tech firms which have brought innovative technology to the stadium and made it the most high-tech in the country.

Foreign supporters may experience the raucousness of the Arsika student population, but this should create a party atmosphere throughout the tournament and is unlikely to cause too much harm to their experience of the tournament. Crime is at about the expected level for a city of Arsika's size and although their may be some backwards attitudes towards foreign people this will be the minority, the city's youthful population are generally quite accepting in outlook.

by **Isle Noire** » Fri Dec 09, 2022 5:07 pm

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my goalscorers: Yes
Godmod Scoring Events: No
RP injuries to my players: Yes
Godmod injuries to my players: No
Hand out Yellow cards to my players: Yes
Hand out Red cards to my players: No
Godmod Other Events: No

Isle Noire National Football Team

The Sentinels

Manager: Lars Merrington (54)
Formation: 4-4-2
Style Mod: +0.5

Starters
GK Kenzi Issington (27), FC Masaka
RB Lyra Penn (31), Masaka City
CB Rea Gomm (28), Pennington Gyora
CB Atwater Lynne (26), Masaka City
LB Taria Moss (22), Pennington Gyora
RM Ysba Magari (27), FC Masaka
CM Banjai Ansott (30), Pennington Gyora CAPTAIN
CM Baia Kane (25), Katahari
LM Mynt Toscek (25), Cyda Mountain
ST Doyru Larsta (28), Parrington Casta
ST Suvi Ansetta (20), Katahari

Bench
GK Ellara Boheim (26), Masaka City
GK Rhia Lott (25), Century Boita
RB Pyntha Gresharian (30), Rhada Gyora
CB Yanta Plott (23), Cyda Mountain
CB Nisette Gyodori (25), Rhada Gyora
LB Arla Pixel (28), Cyda Mountain
CM Annette Goer (26), FC Masaka
CM Daar Fhoven (24), Masaka Dyta
LM Imogen Kilimanjaro (27), Masaka Dyta
ST Lumoski Penthaven (31), FC Masaka
ST Malda Jusovin (26), Katahari

The Sentinels have yet to go far in the Copa Rushmori, but are happy to continue to send teams - to build exposure, build experience, and enjoy the world with color.

by **Yue Zhou** » Fri Dec 09, 2022 5:55 pm

THE UNITED REPUBLICS OF YUEZHOU - NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM
月州联合共和国 - 国际足球队

Badge and kits designed by Txakhaxi's Tahuatxi Storefront.

In the final chance for veterans such as captain Li Jing to pick up some silverware, Yuezhou enjoyed a magical run to the Cup of Harmony finals. Adab, Pasarga, and arguably Juvencus were all favored in their knockout matches, but in each case, the bloodied but triumphant Dragons emerged victorious after 120 minutes. If they could just win one more match, they could deliver their Golden Generation the crowning achievement that...

ah, fuck.

With that out of the way, Chen Huikang now turns to the task of rebuilding, and hoping that the next generation of players will prove just as good. The team is relatively young, inexperienced, and weirdly full of dual nationals. But Yuezhou have surprised very recently, and maybe they will again.

Home, Away, and GK kits designed by Tahautxi. See the video reveal here.

Manager: CHEN Huikang, 55

Chen Huikang is an excellent tactician with a propensity for fast-paced, attacking football. His attacking strengths were apparent in both seasons with CSKA Quebec, who come close to winning the Q-League and Coupe de la Reine his first season. However, still somewhat inexperienced at the time, he struggled to bring together a dressing room full of massive egos and character issues. After being let go, he seriously matured over a three-season stint at Glenmount Town, where he turned an underachieving team into Premier League champions. While the temptation to stay at a club that has almost unconditionally supported him from Day One was strong, the fiercely patriotic Nanhai native couldn't resist the temptation to manage the Dragons. The Cup of Harmony run has basically cemented him as the long-term manager despite the lean years to come.

Assistant Manager: None [left vacant since the Alba and Cymru Incident]
Nickname: The ~~Red~~ Dragons
Formation: 3-4-3
Style Modifier: +2
RP Permissions:

Preferred Goalscorers: None preferred, feel free to consult the below guide for help
Godmod scoring events: TG/DM before doing so
RP injuries to my players: Yes (I determine severity)
Godmod injuries to my players: TG/DM before doing so
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Yes
Hand out red cards to my players: Yes, TG/DM if more than one
Godmod other events: TG/DM before doing so
Other: If you plan to RP the match extensively, please mention by players by name (as opposed to “the Yue striker…” or similar). Please consult me before using images meant to represent my players. All permissions are set to "N" if you explicitly send a sub-age team.

Tactics:

With the ball, the team will play quickly and creatively, focusing on controlling the ball and dynamically exploiting weaknesses in the opponent's defense. Lu maintains some defensive coverage on the left flank, but if the game is under control Dong will float forwards to provide width in the attack, forming a sort of 3-2-5 shape. Liu Huiying plays as a creative false-nine type, who will serve as a sort of offensive hub while dropping into midfield. The tricky Luo Nanwei will play as a right inside-forward, using his speed to make runs in behind the shoulder of the defense and his technique to create and convert chances once in the box, while Jiang provides width and support from the left-hand side. Yang Xie and Dong Xiaowang will both be aggressively moving forward to join the attack and set up chances, with interchanges common in the attack. Li's ball-carrying and long-range passes often help progress the ball in Yuezhou's third of the pitch, serving as a key bridge between the defense and midfield.

Without the ball, the team defends from the front, relying on the pace and industry of the front three to harry opposing defenses and force mistakes. There sometimes is a sense of there being "attacking" and "defensive" blocks, the latter being comprised of the defense, Wan, and sometimes Yang, and the former being everyone else. The idea is that successive lines can react quickly to the press being broken and move up to compensate and close off space. Dong will sometimes push up to counterattack, but Lu and at least two of the center-backs will stay back, giving the team a solid defensive base without the ball to work from.

Captain: YUAN Mingrong
Vice Captains: LIU Huiying, ZHAO Deliang
Penalty Taker: LIU Huiying -> JIANG Jieren -> LUO Nanwei -> WAN Sheping -> YUAN Mingrong
Common Substitutions
If Yuezhou is chasing a goal:
Kara Mingsdottír Zhang on, Yang Xie off
Luo Dan on, Jiang Jieren off
Wen Xiaohui on, Zhu Mingxia off (change to 4-3-3)
If Yuezhou is defending a lead:
Diadora Reeve on, Dong Xiaowang off
Guo Hong on, Luo Nanwei off
Zhen Long on, Li Jianguo off

STARTERS
#01 - GK - ZHAO Deliang (赵德亮) - 24 - Atletik Thessia (MYT)
A goalkeeping phenom who won a historic Golden Ball (both in terms of position and age) en route to Jiangdong's first league title in years. A cool, confident, and physically imposing general on the pitch, albeit a bit traditionalist in playstyle.
#16 - CB - ZHU Mingxia (朱名夏) - 32 - Crossroads (CMT)
A strong, aerially imposing center-back who generally struggles to get rid of the ball without hoofing it clear. However, some time in Tequilo has helped round his game out better, and he surprisingly held his own in the Zenith before moving to the Red League with Parrhesia's relegation.
#27 - CB - LI Jianguo (李建国) - 27 - Tihon (CMT)
Li is the best of the team's center-backs with the ball at his feet, making him best-suited for a three-man defense where he can make surging runs and spray accurate long-range passes with either foot. The physicality has never quite caught up to the ball-playing ability, as he's very prone to be pushed around by bigger strikers, but Chen views his play as vital to his decision to switch to three-at-the-back.
#05 - CB - YUAN Mingrong (袁明荣) (C) - 30 - Ararat (MYT)
An intelligent, cultured center-back who's grown into an absolute rock at the back. Has proven himself in Mytanija as one of the best defenders in the league, and has rapidly developed into a strong all-around center-back who was once the Top League's player of the season.
#24 - LB - LU Lanying (f) (卢兰英) - 26 - Rutland Dockside (CDG)
A quick, athletic left-back, Lu is strong when driving forwards and tracking back but could work on her crossing. Not the most natural fit for a wingback role, but her physical prowess and energy should help out.
#19 - CDM/CM - WAN Sheping (万射平) - 28 - Wirr Tsi (CMT)
An old-school, defensive-minded midfielder who's surprisingly good in the air despite being 5'8". Earned a move to countryman Zhaxi Nanlei’s Wirr Tsi squad a few seasons ago, and has rapidly become one of Chromatika's finest midfielders and a key figure in the newly-minted Red League juggernauts.
CM - YANG Xie (杨谢) - 29 - St. Bart's Dutch (TLI)
A dynamic midfielder whose greatest assets on the field are his relentless energy and athleticism. Has found his level with St. Bart's Dutch, where he's shed many of his former attitude concerns and become a solid supporting piece in the midfield. But he may not have much time to cement this spot as his own before Kara Mingsdottír takes it from him.
#25 - RB - DONG Xiaowang (董小王) - 26 - Megabrantid (SRS)
A pacy, strong fullback well-suited to the modern game. Could be creatively deployed as a winger in a pinch, and will provide much of the width in this setup.
#77 - LAM/RAM - JIANG Jieren (江杰任) - 28 - Osarese Marcadia (AUD)
An incredibly quick winger, albeit one slightly out of place on the left, Jiang’s ball-retention skills need to work and he tends to play with too much ambition. Still, he’s absolutely electric when on, with a combination of scoring and playmaking on the counterattack that could really make an impact.
#10 - AM/SS - LIU Huiying (f) (刘辉映) - 32 - Sabrefell Moths (NPH)
Liu’s speed and devastating passing ability make her one to watch with every counterattack. Her high workrate, even on the defensive end, should theoretically make her a good candidate to slot into a false nine-esque offensive hub position, as she's now an attacking midfielder at the club level in the Zenith.
#11 - RW - LUO Nanwei (罗南伟) - 25 - FC Inter Nantwich (TMB)
An extraordinarily athletic player who worked his way onto Guodui's senior team as a teenager; despite some injuries during his youth career, his pace and dynamic creativity make him a terror with the ball, although he can be erratic and inconsistent. Impressed in the Zenith despite suffering relegation with Gaelic Club - enough to make him the starting right-winger after Huang Shedong's ACL tear. Now, he's been made an eight-million-dollar man, and impressed in his first season with Nantwich.

RESERVES
#23 - GK - GUO Yanhong - 33 - Dhun Lagarr FC (TKT)
A modern sweeper-keeper and competent shot-stopper who is aggressive to a fault, but who had a strong enough season in Tikariot to earn a call-up.
#12 - GK - Elaine XU (f) - 19 - West Couno United (TMB)
Known for her distribution as well as her heroics outside of the penalty box, Xu's family escaped to Tumbra at the outbreak of the Yue Civil War, but the young, flashy goalkeeper is now back and readying a long-term challenge to Zhao Deliang's starting spot.
#03 - CB - ZHEN Long - 32 - SC Jiangdong
A savvy veteran leader who, alongside Zhao Deliang, anchored a league-best defense for Jiangdong. Excellent aerially and capable of locking down opposing attackers, and competent enough with the ball at his feet.
#06 - CB - HU Jiewen - 27 - Corinthians No Longer (NPH)
Already known for his composure, leadership, and surefootedness at a young age, Hu is a strong, quick center-back with a high ceiling - although some inconsistency has kept him from reaching it.
#26 - CB - Garrett SHANGYUAN - 23 - Chatswood (NPH)
Quick and physically imposing, the dual national Shangyuan is known for his flashy blocks and his lumbering runs upfield, as well as his almost magnetic attraction to being booked.
#14 - LB - JIAWEI Chuan (f) - 32 - Tihon (CMT)
A quick, crafty full-back (or wing-back, or even winger if Yuezhou is really parking the bus) whose biggest weakness is a propensity to get forced off the ball. Will likely play more defensively than Dong on the right-hand side.
#17 - CM - GUO Hong - 27 - 1896 Ebor (MYT)
A quick, diminutive water-carrier who excels at breaking up attacks and has grown into a key role for 1896 Ebor. Has a tendency to pick up cards.
#15 - CM - FANG Yuhui (f) - 28 - North Granby (CDG)
Not the most physically imposing, but seemingly endless stamina and excellent positioning mean she shows up almost everywhere on the pitch when needed to make a tackle. Not great offensively, but improving.
#08 - CM - Kara Mingsdottír ZHANG (f) - 20 - Steinaux (GRÆ)
The YFA spent a lot of time and effort convincing Karolíná Mingsdottír to declare for Yuezhou's national team instead of Græntfjall's, but it's become apparent that the young midfielder was worth the trouble. A well-rounded midfield prospect whose speed and technique makes her devastating on the counterattack, and who has a propensity for scoring wondergoals.
#13 - RB - Diadora REEVE (f) - 32 - Coret Hawks (NPH)
Diadora Reeve is an athletic, relatively attack-minded fullback who provides an interesting tactical option for Yuezhou in place of Zhu Aiguo. We think she had a Yue grandfather or something, which is why she's turned up on the Yue national team despite everyone previously thinking she was Nepharim.
#22 - LW/RW - LUO Dan - 32 - Coquitlam United (KSK)
A more mobile forward who can deputize capably on either wing or as an attacking midfielder, Luo is a dangerous scorer known for his quick-burst runs behind the defense, although he can be a little selfish at times. Will be playing as more traditional winger for the national team, but is also capable of playing as an inside-forward on the right or dropping back into a wide midfield position.
#33 - SS/CAM - LUO Chuan (f) - 27 - Spenson Suburbia (ZWZ)
An agile, technically adept attacking midfielder at her best when distributing to others. Tends to get bullied off the ball, though.
#21 - ST - JI Weibo - 28 - Brantisvogan (SRS)
While selfish to a fault and not the easiest personality to work with, Ji Weibo laid waste to South Newlandia to the tune of 17 goals in 22 matches as a teenager, and has continued to develop as a goalscorer. A pure poacher who’s posed an increased long-range threat as of lately, Ji isn’t much of a team player but can arguably lead a line by himself better than the less physical Liu can, and could be a real option off the bench.
#18 - CAM - WEN Xiaohui (f) - 32 - Libertas Bergheim (SVJ)
Wen Xiaohui, the niece of controversial star midfielder Wen Xiaoli, has rapidly developed from Yuezhou’s next big thing to a star in her own right. She wasn't a great tactical fit for Yuan Zilai's or Lu Jialan’s style, but her pace and playmaking more than merit her inclusion in the first-choice starting eleven, and her breakout WCQ87 was a rare bright spot in an otherwise miserable qualifying campaign. Has stagnated a bit lately, and with the switch to three-at-the-back is a bit of an odd woman out.

by **Cassadaigua** » Sun Dec 11, 2022 10:21 am

Team Cassadaigua- Copa Rushmori 42

Coach- Brittany Byers (59)
With Stephanie Sweeney now serving as the President of CASE, a new manager was needed for the Fillies for the first time since our return. Byers was the logical choice, since she had often been the backup national team manager, anyway. Has coached in the Copa Rushmori on multiple occasions, and was an assistant to Sweeney in World Cup 87, before being named the manager of the team prior to World Cup 88. Since that point, the results have been positive, so Brittany continues in this position for #91. Sure, there are some nations who would see a coach like this, and look at the recent run of Round of 16 exits and think that a change should be made, but CASE has never been like that. Byers is still the right person for the job. She scored her biggest coaching success recently when Cassadaigua won Copa Rushmori 40. Failing to qualify for World Cup 91 was a downer, but a third place effort in Cup of Harmony 83 made that a little easier to handle. CASE stuck with her, and despite being in a very tough group, the Fillies rebounded in World Cup 92 to qualify. As a player, the ex-defender played in World Cups 78 and 79, and was the captain of those teams. Also led Brattleboro FC to a national championship during her tenure there, but she no longer manages at the domestic level to focus on the national team.

Assistant- Hannah Shanley (Starksville United) (49)
Starting defender from World Cups 80-83, and then served as a regular substitute in World Cup 84. Has served in this role since World Cup 85, and that includes while she was still active as a player for a little while. Some are beginning to think that Shanley might be a little too focused on the national team, given Starksville United’s struggles of late. Shanley has been a regular assistant of Byers, but did not serve as such in the Copa Rushmori 40 title run. Hannah comes into Copa Rushmori 42 fresh off a CSL championship with Starksville United.

Starters in Green
Subs in Blue
Reserves in Red

Goalkeepers:
#20- Stacie Thornton (27) (New Lakeland Soccer Club)- Starter WC 92, CR 41, Sub WC 91, Reserve WC 90 & CR 40, Sub DBC 51
#31- Cynthia Kerr (30) (Victoriaville South End)- Starter WC 90 & 91, CR 40; Sub WC 92, CR 38 & 39, Reserve WC 89, CR 37, Starter DBC 49
#30- Meghan Lewis (19) (Starksville United)- International Debut

Stacie Thornton is officially Cassadaigua's go-to goalkeeper now. It may have taken her a little longer to arrive on the scene, but after impressing during World Cup 92, there was no longer any doubt that this is her time. Right now, she is in the prime of her career, so there is every reason to be confident that she can continue to play at a high level. Cynthia Kerr has settled into the #2 job, but if need be, Brittany Byers will be confident to call her name. Meghan Lewis is likely just along for the ride and the experience here.

Defenders:
#4- Brianna Ward (28) (Victoriaville South End)- Starter WC 91 & 92, CR 40, 41& DBC 51, Sub CR 39
#2- Madison Rutland (26) (Starksville Coastal)- Starter WC 91 & 92, CR 40 & 41, DBC 51 & 52
#6- Rachel Becker (22) (New Lakeland SC)- Sub WC 92, Reserve CR 41
#21- Hailey Meyer (25) (Zenit Attawapiskat, Quebec)- Sub WC 92, Starter DBC 52
#3- Alyssa Marlin (22) (Winchester City)- International Debut
#28- Tiffany Brown (21) (Starksville Coastal)- International Debut
#24- Sarah Bayne (32) (Brattleboro Westside)- Starter DBC 49, CR 37-39; Sub WC 89-90 & CR 40, Reserve WC 88 & 91, 92 & CR 41
#23- Natalie Swanson (28) (Winchester Traditional Soccer Club)- International Debut

Not the expected group of defenders, but a pretty good looking group. There are some departures, first with Caitlyn Kaleta's retirement and Amber Hogan opting out of the Copa Rushmori, there became more opportunities for people. The highly touted Rachel Becker will get her chance to start, and Hailey Meyer, who plays professionally in Quebec, will get her biggest responsibility on the national team for her career. The two substitutes, Marlin and Brown had huge CSL seasons, and given their young ages, the time is now to see how they adapt to the national team. Byers did not just want to name them to the roster though, and has put them in spots on the depth chart where they will get decent playing time.

Midfielders:
#9- Morgan Rosenblatt (33) (AFC Treson, Nephara)- Starter WC 87-92, DBC 48 & 49, CR 36-39 & 41 (TEAM CAPTAIN)
#25- Kelsey Werth (26) (Cednia Beach, Turori)- Starter WC 91 & 92, CR 40 & 41, DBC 52; Sub DBC 51
#8- Krystal Sherwin (28) (Northern Union, Brenecia)- Starter WC 90-92, DBC 51, CR 39-41
#35- Marquis Miles (22) (Victoriaville City)- Sub WC 92, Reserve CR 41
#37- Kaitlin Millikan (21) (Concord Heights City)- Reserve WC 92
#36- Tara Kriedel (32) (Shearwater, Kelssek)- Starter WC 91, Sub WC 90 & 92, Reserve WC 88, 89 & CR 38, Starter DBC 49 & CR 39, 40
#39- Jenna Stokley (21) (New Lakeland SC)- Reserve SWC 92
#38- Emily Doran (27) (North Granby)- Sub WC 91, CR 40, 41 & DBC 51, Reserve CR 39 & WC 92

With Brittany Byers again using a 4-3-3 as the expected starting formation, we will see a similar allotment to World Cup 92. There will be those that wonder if this will be the last Copa Rushmori for Morgan Rosenblatt. She is expected to be back for World Cup 93, but perhaps that will be her swan song with the team. The team needs another midfielder to step up and be the type of player that she has been, and while Kelsey Werth is the logical choice, it may end up being Kaitlin Millikan. Expect her, as well as Marquis Miles to gradually see increased playing time in both this tournament and in World Cup 93 to prepare for the future post-Rosenblatt. There are some promising younger midfielders in the wings, but it will be a little bit before they get promoted to heavy responsibility.

Forwards:
#19- Chloe Anderson (24) (Montreal Koreana, Quebec)- Starter WC 92, CR 40, 41 & DBC 51, Sub WC 90 & 91
#26- Rachel Boldin (25) (Victoriaville South End)- Starter WC 92, CR 40, 41 & DBC 51, Sub WC 90 & 91
#12- Carly Patterson (25) (Grande Mountain)- Starter DBC 52, Sub WC 92, Reserve WC 91, CR 41
#29- Shannon Cunningham (18) (BT Ming, Chromatika)- International Debut
#43- Lexi McGregor (19) (Starksville United)- Reserve WC 92
#27- Allyson Perry (24) (Winchester City)- Sub WC 92, CR 41, Starter DBC 52, Reserve WC 91
#34- Lacey Sherwood (19) (Rutland Dockside)- International Debut

This is a very interesting blend of forwards. Rachel Boldin is coming off a career best season, where she was named the MVP of the CSL, and Chloe Anderson continues to impress in Quebec. These two have been side by side for a while now, despite their still younger ages, giving them excellent chemistry with one another. Gone is Bayley Stanton, who had a poor year with Concord Heights City, and she is replaced by Carly Patterson, who will finally get her chance to shine. The two subs are players that had monster seasons as teenagers. Lexi McGregor, the highly outspoken forward, backed up her talk and played a big role in Starksville United's championship. Shannon Cunningham, a graduate of Concord Heights Central Academy, exceeded all expectations in her first year in Chromatika, and that was certainly noticed by Brittany Byers. Most believe that Patterson will only be playing about half a game, with Cunningham and McGregor each getting consistent playing time. Certainly, they can be great weapons in the second half. Allyson Perry also comes off a strong year, but she is simply trapped on this depth chart.

Team Info:
Formation: 4-3-3
People from Cassadaigua are referred to as Cassadagans.
Team nickname: Fillies. Also, we are commonly referred to as the Dagans

Home Stadium & City information:
n/a for CR 42

RP Permissions:
My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose Goalscorers: Yes
Godmod scoring events: Yes
RP injuries to my players: Yes (only say they are hurt, please)
Godmod injuries to my players: No
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Yes
Give red cards to my players: Yes (No more than one more than you give yourself)
Godmod other events: No

Style Modifier: + 2.7

Kits: (Pink= home, White= away, Black= keeper or third. Thanks Donnacona!)

If there is a conflict with the white kit, the team will wear pink.
If there is a conflict with the pink kit, we will first compliment the other team on their choice of uniform color. We should probably get to know one another better. Then, wear white.

Retired Kit Numbers:
#1 is retired in honor of Allison Salamida
#5 is retired in honor of Michelle Fuller
#7 is retired in honor of Shannon Myers
#10 is retired in honor of Brittany Lawton
#11 is retired in honor of Courtney Ferguson
#13 is retired in honor of Meaghan Bateman
#14 is retired in honor of Stacie Kerrigan-Fraser
#15 is retired in honor of Erica Lambert
#17 is retired in honor of Jessica Schanke
#18 is retired in honor of Taylor Connolly
#22 is retired in honor of Lupe Enriquez
#33 is retired in honor of Hannah Ranucci

For now, #16 is not worn in honor of Meghan Wolcott, but the number has not been retired.

by **San Isidro Labrador** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 7:39 am

San Isidro Labrador Copa Rushmori Roster

Nickname: Jornaleros
Formation: 3-5-2
Style: -2
Manager: Eliseo Alguacil

Goalkeepers
GK #1 Andrés Palacios, 29
GK #12 Ernesto Avelino, 28
GK #23 Melcior Noguer, 24

Defenders
CB #2 Severino Cadenas, 30
CB #3 Caio Hierruano, 28
CB #4 Ariel Guixé, 26
FB/WB #13 José Manuel Bolea, 21
FB/WB #14 Romeu Núñez, 31
CB #15 Mateo Piñón, 24
CB #16 Ignacio Sarmiento, 23

Midfielders
LWB #5 Juan David Zorita, 25
CM #6 Camilo Novoa, 31
CM #8 Abelardo Fermin, 27
CM #10 Clotaire Guignol, 29
RWB #7 Oriol Godoy, 30
WB #17 Diego Berrocal, 26
MF #18 Santiago Obrero, 23
MF #19 Herakles Amunategui, 22

Forwards
ST #11 Bernat Carmona, 28
ST #9 Xavi Hidalgo, 32
FW #20 Nacho Ballester, 29
FW #21 César Coronil, 26
FW #22 Efraim Tenorio, 22

Formation diagram

I Give My Opponent Permission To:
    =================================
    Choose My Goalscorers: Yes
    Godmod Goalscoring Events: No
    Injure Players: Small things, every two of my players you injure, one of yours must be injured
    Godmod Injury Events: No
    Red Card Players: Yes, one for one on each team
    Yellow Card Players: Yes, two on my team for one on your team
    Godmod Other Events: No
    =================================

by **Pasarga** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 8:48 am

Choose my goalscorers Y
Godmod Scoring Events Y
RP injuries to my players N
Godmod injuries to my players N
Hand out Yellow cards to my players Y
Hand out Red cards to my players Y
Godmod Other Events Y

Pasarga Roster
Nickname: Wanderers
Most Caps: Mór Császár (196)
Most Goals: Ingþór Auðbjörnsson (124)

Kits

Home Away Third
Modifier: +1

Manager:

Kurtis Rakeruth, age 53
Assistant: Jürgen Eisenhower, age 44

Goalkeepers
GK: Radek Šťastný, age 27, Rolalas FC

GK: Adél Deák, age 34, Stilinkeep FC (F)
GK: Tomáš Přibyl, age 27, Royal Jam FC

The keeper position sees several new faces enter into the pool with the stalwarts of Mezei and Szekeres having been dropped from the pool due to poor play and aging out of the team respectively. With that, it enables Tomáš Přibyl to grab the number one shirt, having become something of a wall for Royal Jam FC in Eastfield Lodge since getting the starting role at the club. The battle for the second spot in the pecking order is hotly contested, although it seems that the elder Adél Deák has the inside track with her late blossoming into the national pool and a standout season with the recently newly promoted Stilinkeep, while Radek Šťastný has earned his spot as the third keeper through good play in the normally offensive Premiership.

Defenders
LB: Jakub Svatoš, age 27, Mar Sara FC

LW/LB: Rudy Yáñez, age 28, CA Paulinthal
CB: Michel Sarrazin, age 29, Hellinic Rouge
CB: Frančiška Marija Žužinjak, age 26, Stilinkeep FC (F)
CB: Ompoly Erôss, age 29, Club Stein-los
CB: Mozes Szölôsi, age 27, Tanrısal
CB: Szescõ Erôss, age 27, Stein-los Turkish
RB: Veronika Fábián, age 25, Marque

(F)
RB: Andrija Hrvatin, age 29, Serrapince FC

(F)

A cycle on and the options in defense are quite different from the last time the Wanderers were entering into Qualifying. The main mainstay will be the starting centerback of Michel Sarrazin, though the Spartans defense was not as good as it was in previous years it was of no fault of the talented defender. He will be paired with Mozes Szölôsi, who has grown into a formidable defender over the last several seasons with Tani. In the rotation reenters Ompoly Erôss after showing the same steely resolve in this last season as the season Club Stein-los unexpectedly won the title, while crosstown rival Szescõ Erôss likely holds the last spot on the plane. At leftback, the sturdy Jakub Svatoš ensures the flanks are well protected with having improved upon his defensive prowess with the Flames and keeps Yáñez from taking the starting position. On the right, it will be Andrija Hrvatin who starts, after showing for multiple seasons her performance at Serapince is no fluke, likewise with Fábián having learned to be a well rounded player with Marque.

Midfielders

RW: Katinka Pálffy, age 27, Tanrısal (F)
RW: Kat Földessi, age 23, CA Paulinthal (F)
AMC: Ilona Kárpáty, age 26, CA Paulinthal (F)
A/MC: Mária Szánthó, age 27, New Bastion

(F)
MC: Moore Lafontaine, age 24, Stein-los Turkish
D/MC: Csongor Sebeôk, age 27, Hellinic Rouge
LW: Vojmil Topić, age 29, CA Paulinthal
A/ML: Gillen Madrigal López, age 27, Raynor City United

(F)
LW: Asztrik Biró, age 22, Mâ Âlâmëómë

After two cycles of a mostly stagnant midfield, there have been quite a few sweeping changes, much as has been the case for the entire pool this cycle under the guidance of the Nepharan manager following their first cycle in charge. A lot of experienced players have been switched out for players more in their prime and who have been playing well at club level. The most startling of these comes at the center midfield position, with Márió Szölösi dropped from the pool, letting Ilona Kárpáty of CAP to take that starting spot. The destroyer role is a shallow place currently for the side, which Csongor Sebeôk should be thankful for in retaining his position despite a less than stellar domestic campaign. Yet it is on the wings that the Wanderers are spoiled for choice, the left wing has three supreme talents to choose from but it is Vojmil Topić who is the clear favorite among the three. Katinka Pálffy claims the right wing spot after three stunning seasons in a row with Tani in the SuperLiga but her spot is heavily challenged by László Petô who added a few goals on top of assists in the latest domestic campaign to add to their skill set.

Strikers

LW/ST: Elek Salai, age 27, AC Izotz Zubia

ST: Eustacio Corral Magana, age 27, CA Paulinthal
ST: Najiyah Lubanah Mifsud, age 32, Stein-los Turkish (F)
ST: Vázsony Sallay, age 28, Serrapince FC

The inconsistencies of the strike force have finally seen the pool shaken up some, with Nagy and Bernat dropped from consideration with a cloudy domestic situation for both. Salai continues to be the obvious head of the spear, having looked quite like a once in a generation talent from the moment he appeared in a Young Wanderers shirt many moons ago. The question is who best works alongside him and after a magnificent campaign for CAP, that appears to be Magana for the time being, although Sallay has made a remarkable case for playing time with good performances in the Qualifiers and Mifsud is a reliable scorer even if she is getting on in years.

Tactics

Some might say that the PFA rescued Rakeruth out of a disaster and gave them a way to fall upwards with their poor showing in Sanford prior to being appointed. However a cycle in charge had the Wanderers make the knockouts and looked quite comfortable in doing so, using a strong midfield that uses its wingers and strikers to stretch out the defense and exploit the pace and playmaking abilities within the Pasargan national pool, while remaining defensively sound.

Captain: Michel Sarrazin
Corner Taker: Vojmil Topić
Set Pieces: Ilona Kárpáty
Penalties: Elek Salai

by **Valladares** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 4:24 pm

THE VALLADAR FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

OFFICIAL ROSTER FOR THE 42^ND COPA RUSHMORI

Coaching Staff:

Head coach: Federico Rassmussen
Assistant coach: Rodrigo Araneda
Adviser: Jessica Curran (CDG)
Goalkeeping coach: Paulo Gaviria
Fitness coach: Frank Wolff
Team doctor: Mateo Ferreira
Physiotherapist: Sandra Romero
Video analyst: Alfredo Tinelli

The prodigal son returns home, and Federico Rassmussen is back home to make his dream of being at the helm of La Nacional come true. The last winning manager of the Series B Champions' Cup with Valladar side Valencia FC, Rassmussen had the chance to enjoy a learning experience at the Independent Athletes of Quebec, first as an assistant and then taking over as permanent manager ahead of the 81st Cup of Harmony, where his team earned a third place finish. That performance, watched first-hand by Valladars as both Valladares and IAQ were drawn into the same CoH group, convinced the VFA executives that he was the man to replace the liked, yet harshly criticized Dagan manager Jessica Curran. And so he is here, eager to show his progress in front of his fellow nationals now that he has had his first international managerial stint. With Rassmussen, fans have been treated to a high-pressing team which tries to regain ball possession as soon as they lose it instead of falling back to regroup and then take advantage of its speedy players up front to counterattack, thus resulting in a high offensive output that comes to terms with the traditional approach of Valladar football.

Once again, and given the exponential growth of women's football in Valladares as well as the resounding success of the women's league Liga-M, the Valladar national football team 23-player roster is exclusively made up by female footballers, all but two of them playing in the domestic league. Most of the players in this squad already had their first international experience in the previous Copa Rushmori, and although this group of up-and-coming footballers narrowly failed to advance out of the group stage back then, they're coming back to show how much they have grown and improved since then. Rassmussen will be once again assisted for this competition by Jessica Curran, who in turn is expected to lend him a big helping hand in dealing with this talented group.

Squad:

GOALKEEPERS
1. Elisa Buckanan - GK - 26 -

Ajax Carloburgo
12. Catalina Valencia - GK - 27 -

Metropolis Alligators
23. Sophia Romano - GK - 25 -

Edmonton United

DEFENDERS
2. Laura Gilleron - RB - 26 -

Fontvielle Impact
3. Fabiana Cruz - CB - 28 -

Ajax Carloburgo (Captain)
4. Vera Kraft - CB - 27 -

Ajax Carloburgo
5. Charlotte Croft - LB - 27 -

Edmonton United
13. Mariana Sierra - RB - 26 -

Metropolis Alligators
14. Florencia Lagos - CB - 25 -

Fontvielle Impact
15. Julie Perrot - CB - 26 -

Metropolis Alligators
16. Manuela Cáceres - LB - 25 -

Libertad

MIDFIELDERS
6. Johanna Daza - RM - 28 -

Metropolis Alligators
7. Iris Calderón - CM - 27 -

Metropolis Alligators
8. Nicky Reed - LM - 27 -

Edmonton United
10. Kiara Rodgers - AM - 25 -

Starksville United
17. Laura Franco - RM - 25 -

Marinos Metropolis
18. Anne Harding - CM - 26 -

Tannenberg FC
19. Caroline Chamoun - LM - 28 -

Fontvielle Impact
21. Josefina Méndez - AM - 29 -

Libertad

FORWARDS
9. Larissa Campanella - FW - 28 -

Edmonton United
11. Alexandra Carabalí - FW - 24 -

Starksville United
20. Tara Clarke - FW - 27 -

Tannenberg FC
22. Yvonne Veira - FW - 27 -

Metropolis Alligators

Starting Lineup, Formation, and Tactics:

The Valladar national football team is known for having its traditional 3-2-2-3 (or 3-4-3 for general reference) formation, which nowadays has mutated into a 3-5-2 by pushing back one of the three forwards to act as a playmaker, and can turn into either a very aggressive yet non-conventional 3-2-5 for attacking or a 5-4-1 (a 3-6-1, even) when the team feel the need to enter into a defensive mode. However, for this tournament this team will play under a conventional 4-3-1-2 formation, with two strong lines at the back and the middle of the field, a playmaker and two strikers. Regardless of the chosen formation, La Nacional will always be looking to attack and retain ball possession for as long as possible, trying to score many goals in the shortest possible time and mounting an insurmountable lead for the second half of the match when players from both teams start showing signs of fatigue, with manager Federico Rassmussen aiming to implement high-pressing elements for whenever the team lose possession of the ball.

Style Modifier: +2

Kits (Brought to you by Meski Sports):

First
Alternate
GK/Third

RP Permissions:

In the event my opponent RPs first, they may...
Choose my goalscorers YES
Godmod scoring events YES
RP injuries to my players NO unless granted permission. I'll reserve the right to determine severity if granted permission.
Godmod injuries to my players NO unless granted permission.
Hand out yellow cards to my players YES
Hand out red cards to my players NO - I'll reserve the right to decide whether my players are sent off or not.
Godmod other events YES only if they involve weather conditions. If you wish to organize something else, do not hesitate to contact me though.

Special requests:
1) Please no killings, and definitely no pandemic-related RPing.
2) Try to be as realistic as possible, and last but no least...
3) Have fun.

by **Cabo Azure** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 4:38 pm

Cabo Azure National Football Team "Las Maçaricas"

After placing third in the forty-first Copa Rushmori and then falling short both in World Cup qualifying and the Cup of Harmony, the Maçaricas return to the regional competition with lofty expectations and a roster that is a mix of old and new blood. Specifically, Paulinho has elected to shift formation to a 4-2-3-1 in hopes of better employing his attacking talent while addressing his relative lack of depth in the midfield. On defense, the tried-and-true back four of Branco, Medeiro, Moniz, and de Lima will remain in place, though Paulinho has indicated he is satisfied with the development of his depth options in front of goal. The midfield sees the most change from the Cup of Harmony roster, with three of Paulinho’s domestically-based players being replaced by uncapped youngsters Florencio and Andrade, as well as a returning Raul Gonsalves. The attack is best described as “the same, but more”; Nicodemo Corte-Real will remain alone up top, but he will be supported by three of Silveira, Cardoso, Gouveia, and Mendonca, with Fonseca providing cover where needed. Each of these attackers has proved himself in a competitive league overseas.

All in all, this roster has the most foreign-based players of any Maçaricas side thus far in the team’s short history, an indication of the increasing globalization of the Azurean game as well as Paulinho’s apparent lack of faith in the domestic system. Just three LHP sides are represented, the traditional blue bloods of Portelo, Villa Silva, and Sao Vicente. Moreover, the team remains young, with an average age just over 25, though there is no shortage of experience, as the likes of Branco and Rathbone have been playing professionally since teenagers.
Starting XI

#		Corte-Real					
Cardoso		Silveira	Gouveia				
							
	Rathbone	Maciel					
							
de Lima				Branco			
	Medeiro		Moniz				
		Gomez

The Gaffer

Goalkeepers
GK Ambrosio Gomez 24 y/o Olympic Thessia (MYT)
A good all-round keeper, seasoned by his time in Mytanija. Earned the starting role during World Cup qualifying and is expected to keep it until he retires or falls out of favor.

GK Zezé Sapateiro 21 y/o Miruan City FC (TKT)
Recently signed to a Tikariotian side as a backup, will likely be a backup for the national team for the foreseaable future

GK Gilberto Valente 30 y/o Portelo
Lithe and quick, but prone to overcommitting. No longer as good as he once was, but still a serviceable backup.

Defenders
RB Amilcar Branco 28 y/o Dhun Lagarr FC (TKT)
The Maçaricas’ undisputed starting right back, and one of its best players. A pacy fullback with the speed and skill to contribute on offense, he has evolved into an every-game starter not only for the .Maçaricas, but his club team as well, making him one of the few Azureans to have such an impact overseas.

LB Ademar de Lima 26 y/o Sao Vicente
Originally a carbon copy of Branco, the left back de jure has evolved into more of a stay-at-home fullback than his counterpart, though he is no slouch going forward. A consistent all-league XI selection in the Liga Hidalgo Primer.

FB Heitor Soares 24 y/o Blackheath (TLI)
A pacey, athletic wingback not at all in the Azurean vein, Soares goes by the mononym "Bandicoot" when plying his trade in the Licentian Isles. Currently working to break into the starting XI both at Blackheath and for the Macaricas

FB Marcelinho Costa 27 y/o Regium Immortum (OAM)
Though he lacks the panache of his peers, Costa is a tough-tackling, canny fullback who makes smart passes up field and terrorizes attackers in his own third. Currently starts for Regium Immortal in Oberour Ar Moro.

CB Adão Moniz 27 y/o Reschensreppur (GRF)
An agile, harrying centerback making his way in a league dominated by “Big F*cking Grantfjallers”, Moniz was a fixture for the Azureans in qualifying and continues to improve.

CB Deodato Medeiro 28 y/o Marine Coast United (VIL)
Despite not having the size or bruising physique that Azureans generally prefer in their centerbacks, Medeiro has exceeded all expectations playing in the top flight of Villita, finding himself in conversation for end-of-season awards. A locked-in starter.

CB Emilio Couto 23 y/o Regiis Dreamland (BRO)
A big, scary centerback who does not shy from contact or yellow cards, Couto provides compact defense in clutch situations. Presently starting on mid-table Regiis Dreamland in Brookstation.

CB Donato Brandão 25 y/o SC Lagos (BOL)
Lacks the physical gifts of his older brother Kevin or Moniz or Medeiro, but a technically proficient centerback who makes few mistakes. Currently starts for SC Lagos, among the best Bollonichsian twins in the Twin Premier League.

Midfielders
CM Narciso Maciel 26 y/o Colonial Sile (VIL)
A composed, intelligent player with great distribution and off-ball movement. A true general to anchor the midfield who's taken root in the Vilitan Premier League

MF Seth Rathbone 23 y/o Portelo
A consistent, creative center-mid who has continued to achieve for the national team while playing domestically.

MF Raul Gonsalves 26 y/o FC Aursbuck (BRO)
A well-rounded midfielder known for having four lungs and being able to play most positions reasonably well, though not excelling in any. Currently plying his trade in Brookstation.

MF Marco Lobo 24 y/o Villa Silva
A holding midfielder who's likely reached his level playing domestically, but nevertheless a solid defensive option and a good like-for-like substitute with Maciel where one is needed.

MF Rolando Florencio 24 y/o Plastinagrade (ZRH)
A good all-round midfielder, without any strengths or weaknesses that stand out. Earns his first senior callup this cycle, currently sitting the bench for Campionato Esportiva de Campeones runners-up Platinastigrade.

MF Telmo Andrade 21 y/o Küsbon Town (CAD)
A fast-thinking, accurate-passing holding mid who has yet to live up to his potential. Was unfortunately relegated with his club in Cardenao, but looks to be a major player in their bounceback campaign.

Forwards
FW Cleto Silveira (C) 28 y/o Cathyr Emeralds (TKT)
After a few lackluster seasons for club and country, Silveira has reasserted himself as the team's #1 striker through his dominant play in the competitive Tikiariotan domestic competition. Recently transferred to Eivora Athletic in Tikariot.

FW Vasco Gouveia 26 y/o Tikariot City FC (TKT)
Quite a polarizing player, as some deem him a poacher for padding his stats with go-ahead goals in meaningless matches, while others point to his impressive assist record to show he contributes in other ways. Recently moved from Tikariot City to newly-promoted TPL side Khalgarh Valley FC, where he has sought to keep the Stripes out of the relegation zone

FW Vasco Cardoso 23 y/o Mountainside (EUR)
A quick, agile, athletic striker, Cardoso is known mainly for his workrate and low quotient of mistakes, in many ways a foil to the other of "Os Dos Vascos". Currently plying his trade for mid-table Mountainside in Eura, where he was on the ballot for Young Player of the Season.

FW Nicodemo Corte-Real 24 y/o Corn Palace (SFD)
A tall, archetypical center forward, Corte-Real has proved to be one of Cabo Azure's greatest success stories after moving abroad at the age of 17. Currently starting for Corn Palace in the Sanford PREMIER League after leading them to their first league title in club history.

FW Pio Mendonça 22 y/o Swangard Athletic (QUE)
A pacy, consistent striker, Pio was the subject of the biggest transfer fee in Azurean history when he moved to Swangard last season. Still starting at Swangard Athletic in the QPL.

FW Estavao Fonseca 24 y/o Cathyr Emeralds (TKT)
A fan favorite among the Azurean diaspora in TIkariot. Has earned callups by providing a strong option on the wing when one of the team's starters is unavailable.

by **Cabo Azure** » Tue Dec 13, 2022 5:56 am

Copa Group Draw: Maçaricas Favored to Win Group C
The Copa Rushmori 42 draw is complete, and the Maçaricas will return to Mytanija, where it all began, favored to win their group for perhaps the first time. Eight years ago, Cabo Azure played its first matches of competitive international football in Mytanija, and since then they have played two high-stakes matches against its national team, so it seems only fitting that the next chapter of Azurean football should start here.

It is hard to imagine a worse group draw than the forty-first Copa, where Cabo Azure managed to win their group with a gutsy 0-0 draw over a heavily-favored Nepharan side, but for the first time Cabo Azure reaps the benefits of being in Pot 1. The greatest threats in their group stage are the Gatchingerrak Union and Darmen, both formidable sides in their own ways, but if the Maçaricas are in form, there is no reason a result can't be had against both sides.

"I don't want to say we're looking past the group stage," said team captain Cleto Silveira in a presser following the draw, "But we're at a point now as a team and as a nation where advancing out of our group is the bare minimum standard, and we'd really like to win it comfortably. Last time out we won a group that included Nephara, and this time we've got a bit of an easier path."

Silveira has been in contention for the Golden Cannon in the Tikariotian Premier League this season after transferring to Elveira Athletic. He joins Vasco Gouveia as one of the team's Tikariot-based players, and Pio Mendonça and Nicodemo Corte-Real as one of its high-scoring strikers in domestic play.

"When Nico won the league with Corn Palace, it was like, 'is this a fluke?"' said head coach Paulinho. "No one was really sure what had happened, whether it was his teammates or the competition in Sanford was just below par. And a couple of our midfielders and defenders have been getting considerable attention in top leagues, including Vilita, but of course it's always subdued for those positions. So to have Pio and Cleto out there making absolute statements in Quebec and Tikariot I think shows the state of this program and the payout of investing in youth."

Las Maçaricas have their biggest test early, on the first matchday versus Darmen. Darmen made the round of 16 in Copa Rushmori 41 before losing a heartbreaker on penalties to tournament co-host Ceni. Their next opponent, the Gatchingerrak Union, returns to the Copa Rushmori after finishing last in Group H of the previous edition, their only result coming against fellow minnows Isle Noire. Rounding out the group stage are two relative unknowns; Norrhem, who have not participated in a Copa Rushmori since the Azureans' debut in 38, and Kirungabi, a nation well-known for its prowess in tennis and athletics, but less so for its football. A late bye means the Maçaricas have the opportunity to set their fate early, leaving the rest of the group to battle it out for the second billet.

“A Divisão”, pt 1
Looking at the politics of Cabo Azure from the outside, one could be forgiven for thinking they must be fairly straightforward. Of the half-million people in the islands, the vast majority are ethnically Azurean, middle-income, have a secondary education, and belong to the Azurean Catholic Church. It is true that Azurean politics lack many of the theatrics that characterize other Rushmori nations. When asked their political views, many Azureans will reply, “Matheus vinte e dois”, referring to the Book of Matthew 22:21, meaning that politics are best left to politicians. Despite this apparent ennui, Azurean politics are deeply divisive and play a major role in the day-to-day life of most Azureans.

Though the cleavages in Cabo Azure politics are not immediately obvious, they are deeply felt and impact many aspects of Azureans’ lives. After the Coup of 1979, the interim government led by the Gang of Seven entrenched itself in part by playing the republican and royalist resistance factions against each other, first favoring one and then the other to prevent a unified opposition from ever forming. The divisions which were defined during this era are still present in contemporary Cabo Azure, and they inform the parties that make up the National Assembly.

This split between royalists and republicans has its origins in the reign of King Adolfo II, who ruled Cabo Azure for much of the nineteenth century and made lasting changes to the nation’s power structure. In particular, Adolfo consolidated power away from the nobility by removing their ability to collect taxes. Instead citizens paid their taxes directly to the crown, and the income was distributed by Adolfo on the advice of a council he established with representation from each island. This move was popular with the common people, who believed the nobles to be categorically inept and corrupt.

The common folk had a point, as all but one of the Azurean noble families went bankrupt after Adolfo removed their ability to collect taxes. Only the venerable Silvas kept their status as sovereigns of the island of Aho by falling back on a diverse collection of profitable businesses to maintain their wealth and status. Throughout Adolfo’s reign, the Silvas would be his closest partners and his greatest rivals, eventually rising to a status almost on par with the royal family.

Besides collecting taxes and providing basic services, the noble families of Cabo Azure were historically the conduit through which trade goods entered their respective islands, negotiating with merchants and ships’ captains and then re-selling their wares at a profit. This system was inherently inefficient, as competition forced nobles to pay inflated prices for goods, and the scale was limited by the small populations of individual islands. By disenfranchising the nobility, Adolfo created a vacuum which was quickly filled by the Silvas, who carried significantly more bargaining power than the individual noble families had.

Paradoxically the Silvas’ monopoly initially lowered the cost of foreign goods, as the lack of competition allowed them to dictate prices and the increased volume gave them greater leverage. Nevertheless, in the decades that followed, their influence became a source of increasing resentment, especially in the outer islands, and anti-Silva sentiment stoked the fires of an ever-bolder republican resistance.

by **Gnejs** » Tue Dec 13, 2022 6:01 am

CR42 squad

Formation:
5-4-1

Style Modifier:
-5

Nickname:
The Dandelions

Uniforms (Supplied by Siru) - Home/Away

Team Roster (domestic team and age):
GK: #1 Samuel Wijk (Briskeby BK, 27)
RD: #2 Stefan Grålum (Briskeby BK, 30)
RCD: #9 Simon Naess (Lokomotiv Esaias, 28)
CD: #4 David Knardal (Kejm BK, 30)
LCD: #8 August Bjørneboe (IFK Nordstiernan, 22)
LD: #11 Lennart Horndal (Allmänna Gränd IF, 21)
RM: #16 Nicolai Enger (BK Rösunda, 24)
RCM: #7 Theages Nilsson (IFK Hagen, 29)
LCM: #5 Jack Wijk (Finntorp IK, 37)
LM: #12 Didrik Nes (Kejm BK, 24)
F: #3 Phaedo Svensson (Briskeby BK, 26)
RM: #24 Samuel Falkmar* (Port Rhovanyon AFC, 21)
GK: #19 Henrik Ceder (IFK Nordstiernan, 30)
RD: #10 Daniel Jones (Allmänna Gränd IF, 23)
RD: #6 Lennart Svensson-Andersson (IFK Segeltorp, 24)
CD: #14 Mikael Fauster (Lokomotiv Esaias, 35)
LD: #15 Carl-Johan Hansson (IFK Hagen, 19)
LD: #17 Carl Benedictsen (Storängen IF, 19)
RM: #18 Cratylus Hansen (Kejm BK, 23)
CM: #19 Menexenus Nilsen (Welmia IF, 30)
LM: #20 Edward Drange (Briskeby BK, 24)
M: #21 Göran Drake (Lokomotiv Esaias, 28)
F: #22 Vasco Clavell (Kejm BK, 22)
F: #23 Cornelis Ceder (IFK Nordstiernan, 26)

* Samuel Falkmar has dual Gnejs/Tikariot citizenship, and has elected to represent the Prosaic Union.

Coach:
Bjørnstjerne Eriksen.

Standard starting line-up if you don’t feel like deciding for yourself:

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my scorers: Y
Give yellow cards to my players: Y
Give red cards to my players: Y
RP injuries to my players: Y
Godmod scoring events: Y
Godmod injuries to my players: Y
Godmod other events: Y.
Style mod: -5

About the Prosaic Union
The Prosaic Union of Gnejs – commonly abbreviated PUG, colloquially called 'The Union', often nicknamed 'The Rock' – is a country located in the far north-east of Rushmore. A constant source of bewilderment for many, the name Gnejs comes from the native word for the type of metamorphic rock called gneiss in English and German. The root of the word is believed to derive from the High German gneist, meaning roughly 'spark', the link being that the rock glitters. Gneiss is a common rock type across the territory making up the modern-day nation, and has historically been a readily used building material component.

A vast and sparsely populated land, The Union covers about 1 220 000 square kilometres and has a population of just under 16 million. It is divided into four big regions – Berg (north), Birka (east), Ängby (west) and Vika (south) – which in turn are divided into counties and municipalities. The Interior compromises an immense area of more or less untouched wilderness at the heart of the country's inland and covers parts of all four regions. The capital city is called Port Kejm – located on the coast in the region Birka. People in general are quiet and reserved. While idle small talk without purpose amongst strangers might be considered appropriate and expected some places, in The Union it is usually frowned upon and considered bothersome. The native tongue is called 'Gnejsian' (native: gnejsiska) and has a long and rich history. There's an abundance of regional dialects, some so distinct from others that many have suggested they really constitute different – albeit strongly related – languages. It is common to divide the many dialects into three different 'families', north-eastern (OOC: Norwegian), western (OOC: Swedish) and southron (OOC: Danish). Children learn English (known in The Union as 'the common tongue') from the age of five, and the population at large is generally considered to be fluent.

by **Mytanija** » Tue Dec 13, 2022 1:42 pm

RP PERMISSIONS
If my opponent role-plays first they may:
Choose my goalscorers: Y
Godmod scoring events: Y
RP injuries to my players: Y, you may comment on severity although I shall have final say
Godmod injuries to my players: N
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Y, Mytanars are notoriously passionate and prone to gamesmanship so may accumulate these at an extremely high rate
Hand out red cards to my players: Y, see above, although no more than two in one game please unless in the knockout stages of a tournament in which case this could increase
Godmod other events: Y

Style modifier: −0.25

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE: MYTANIJA SQUAD FOR COPA RUSHMORI 42

##  Pos.    Name                  Age  Caps/Goals  Club                         
01  GK      Semir Besak           27   85/0        Mipojoseon (QUE)
02  DL/R    Nemanja Ovcina        23   22/0        Eivora Athletic FC (TKT)
03  DCL     Grigorij Savicevic    33   113/7       AC Izotz Zubia (AUD)
04  DCR     Bigger Mbala–Ekakia   29   78/7        Wirr Tsi (CMT)
05  DR/L    Patrik Odonelec       30   108/2       CA Paulinthal (PAS)
06  MC      Nurija Papez          21   6/0         1923 Esca
07  MCL     Gavril Atsev          28   56/17       Myana (CMT)
08  AML     Luka Vujanovic        20   0/0         West Couno United (TMB)
09  ST      Jezdimir Ocokoljic    34   170/109     Newrook City (NPH)
10  MCR     Omer Kuhar–Arh        29   54/21       Brinemouth (NPH)
11  AMR     Mirko Hranilovic      23   1/0         AFC Corvistone (NPH)
12  GK      Anton Puzin           27   8/0         Bastion (EUR)
13  DL      Asmir Milosevic       26   4/0         1896 Ebor
14  DCL     Bosko Pestotnik       22   14/0        Mipojoseon (QUE)
15  DCR     Adnan Sulejmanovic    26   44/2        Sabrefell Moths (NPH)
16  DR      Matija Gvardjancic    20   0/0         Crossroads (CMT)
17  MC      Mersudin Smajic       31   82/4        Stahlburg City (NPH)
18  MCL     Edin Aganovic         27   35/6        Directus (EUR)
19  MCR     Denis Ovsyannikov     20   5/3         Atletik Težia
20  AML     Nenad Tejic           21   1/0         1923 Esca
21  AMR     Milos Bajic           26   0/0         1923 Esca
22  ST      Drazen Skara          22   25/14       1923 Esca
23  GK      Visa Marinkovic       33   0/0         CDSA
24  DC      Haris Jaganjac        22   0/0         Port Rhovanyon AFC (TKT)
25  ST      Fran Prpic–Bosanac    26   35/18       Bastion (EUR)
26  ST      Milica Prokopljevic   20   9/8         Atletik Težia

TACTICAL INFORMATION

3-1-6 – IN POSSESSION: Mytanija play differently dependent on if they have the ball to if the opposition have it. The image on the left shows the team’s notional layout if they were transitioning after losing / regaining possession. When the Hoops have the ball the 4-3-3 will become closer to a 3-1-6 as Mytanija look to aggressively place players up against the opposition’s back-line to create overloads. This can leave the ‘1’ (Nurija Papez) a little isolated, necessitating them to have good speed of thought and feet in order to be positioned well to guard against and close down counter-attacks. The ‘3’ will usually be made-up of Savicevic, Mbala-Ekakia and the right-back Patrik Odonelec, with Odonelec shifting across. Papez will be tasked with operating as an old-fashioned regista, both controlling the tempo of the game from the centre of the pitch and playmaking from a deeper position than his teammates - often sending raking passes towards the widest players (usually Ovcina and Hranilovic).

This is designed to free-up the left-back (Nemanja Ovcina) to get forward and provide the width on the far-left side of the ‘6’. Whilst Ovcina stays on the left touchline, Luka Vujanovic will look to shift inside and make incisive runs towards the opposition box and Gavril Atsev will position himself just outside the opposition penalty area before making late runs into it to look for shooting opportunities. Jezdimir Ocokoljic will play as a false nine, dropping off the front 6 to look for opportunities to get on the ball and act as an attacking pivot for everybody else to play-off.

Omer Kuhar-Arh will look to make the incisive runs beyond Ocokoljic, fulfilling the same function on the right-side as Vujanovic on the left. Mirko Hranilovic will be tasked with maintaining the width on the right-side of the pitch, playing right on the touchline to try to stretch the opposition defensive line as wide across the pitch as possible – aimed at creating those spaces for the likes of Vujanovic, Atsev, Ocokoljic and Kuhar-Arh to exploit. When Mytanija do lose possession they will immediately look to press the opposition to win the ball back as soon as possible, if this initial press is evaded then the team will settle back into a 4-4-2 shape.

4-4-2 – OUT OF POSSESSION: After the initial press, the Mytanar team will settle back into a 4-4-2 shape. This will be achieved by Gavril Atsev shifting over towards a left-midfield position, with Nurija Papez lined-up as a left-sided central midfielder and Omer Kuhar-Arh dropping back into a right-sided central midfield position. Mirko Hranilovic will drop back from his usual right-wing position to play as an old-school right-sided midfielder. This four will shift across the pitch as a unit, looking to marshal the opposition into wide areas and then trap them there with either of the ‘2’ (Vujanovic or Ocokoljic), tracking back to try to almost cage the opponent from behind.

Vujanovic will shift across and act as an extra forward out of possession, in this 2 with Ocokoljic and they will mainly sit central to close down the opposition centre-backs should the ball go back to them (except when the Mytanija midfield manages to trap the opposition on the sideline). The back four will operate as a unit too, forming a line and moving forward and backwards together and not going outside the width of the 18-yard box. This narrow approach is geared at preventing the opposition from getting into the Mytanija penalty area and will only really be broken should the opposition manage to breach the midfield and get down the flanks near to the Mytanar 18-yard box.

TEAM ROLES
Captaincy: 1. Jezdimir Ocokoljic; 2. Grigorij Savicevic; 3. Bigger Mbala-Ekakia; 4. Patrik Odonelec; 5. Semir Besak
Penalties: 1. Jezdimir Ocokoljic; 2. Bigger Mbala-Ekakia; 3. Omer Kuhar-Arh; 4. Gavril Atsev; 5. Mirko Hranilovic
Corners: 1. Gavril Atsev; 2. Patrik Odonelec; 3. Mirko Hranilovic; 4. Omer Kuhar-Arh; 5. Nemanja Ovcina
Short free kicks: 1. Jezdimir Ocokoljic; 2. Gavril Atsev; 3. Omer Kuhar-Arh; 4. Nurija Papez; 5. Luka Vujanovic
Long free kicks: Usually one of the full-backs to put it into the penalty area and take advantage of Mytanija's relatively tall team

NOTES:
• Dzvezdan Kitanchev (aged 50) is the manager of the Mytanar national team. It is his most high-profile appointment yet and it is an appointment which has been met with a degree of bemusement by the Mytanar public and sporting press. Kitanchev arrived on the scene as the talented young manager of NK Dyka, getting them promoted to the Mytanar Top League for the first time ever but failing to keep them up. His exploits got him the job at FK Arsika, fuelled by the moneyed and ambitious concrete and chemicals magnate Sacha Dobruzhanski.

Kitanchev’s reign at FK Arsika started well in the first couple of seasons, bringing the club into the top-half of the Top League, qualifying for IFCF competitions and reaching the latter stages of the National Cup; but when Dobruzhanski’s financial support slowed FK Arsika’s progress stalled. In recent years Kitanchev has bemoaned his lack of opportunities to improve the squad and FK Arsika have become something of a mid-table team, though he has continued to take the club deep in the National Cup.

There was a feeling that both Kitanchev and the club were ready for a change and when Repin decided to leave the Mytanija job he quickly emerged as a leading candidate due to the fact his teams have played the type of football which most closely resembled the tactically flexible style Repin embodied. More high-profile candidates like Misel Ravnjak and Sava Grgurovic play more defensive football; whilst Edis Znidarsic didn’t want to leave the Atletik job. That meant that the likes of Kitanchev, Litala ’93’s Luca Zagorc and CDSA’s Slavko Jelic ended up as the main contenders and the FSM eventually plumped for Kitanchev.

The pressure will be on Kitanchev after Repin has impressed and brought Mytanija back to the top table of international football and following could be a difficult task, but he could also make that next step which Repin couldn’t and that would quickly sate the desire for blood of the Mytanar sporting media. Interestingly Jelic has ended up in the Sargossa job, though both flattered to deceive at the Copa Rushmori, Mytanija exiting at the Quarter Final stage at the hands of Cabo Azure and Sargossa exiting a round earlier against Græntfjall. He led the team to qualification for World Cup 92 - albeit only with a disappointing group stage exit to show for it.

• Mytanija has qualified to 15 World Cups, most recently World Cup 92, the country's biggest achievement in that competition is reaching the quarter finals in World Cup 68. Mytanija has won the Copa Rushmori once (XVII), to go with two victories in the Cup of Harmony (56 and 59); and a Di Bradini Cup win (DBC40). Some of these achievements were made under the names Mytannion/the Mytanar Region, Mytanija is ICly the exact same place.

• Mytanars are renowned for being passionate and therefore will not be afraid of confrontation if they feel they're on the end of a particularly rough tackle. At the same time Mytanars are not afraid of gamesmanship and may perform some questionable tackles of their own, along with tactical fouls to prevent the opponent from gaining momentum. Furthermore, diving, crowding referees and even intentional handballs (OOC: so Maradona's Hand of God and Suarez for Uruguay versus Ghana, that sort of stuff), to influence the game are not beyond Mytanar players. They will argue that winning is the most important thing and will do anything they can to achieve victory. Some might call it dirty, Mytanars don't, that won't stop them complaining when things go against them naturally.

• Mytanar fans are well-known for being hooligans, causing problems wherever they go and being prone to violence. They also make outstanding choreographies for their domestic sides and occasionally the national team (if they aren't fighting each other), so pyrotechnics, flags and lots of noise and alcohol are common place. Corteos (organised marches from a specific place to the stadium), are also common, these can lead to areas being shutdown as the sheer numbers of fans walking along roads block traffic and can lead to issues as police attempt to marshal supporters too. Given the ongoing political situation in Mytanija, whether ultra groups are able to put aside differences regarding politics, ethnicity etc for the national side is a pertinent question and the answer to it may change even from game to game.

by **Savojarna** » Tue Dec 13, 2022 2:16 pm

Savojar Roster for CR42

RP PERMISSIONS

STYLE: -1.25

Choose Goalscorers: Y
Godmod Scoring: N
Injure Players: Y (no longer than the rest of the tournament)
Godmod Injuries: N
Yellow Cards: Y
Red Cards: Y - not more than one
Godmod other events: N

I am open to discussing all RP permissions via TG or Discord, if you have a specific plan.

TEAM

STAFF
Coach: Victoria Maersk
Age: 45 // Coach since: WCQ 92
A legend of the Savojar game, Victoria Maersk has been playing for the relatively unknown women’s team of Amazonia Valdhavn, when two things happened at the international level: The Savojar Women’s National Team won the Copa Rushmori 31 with a 23 year old Maersk playing a relevant role as a utility sub in the midfield, and Savojar pro football was fully integrated, resulting in the dissolution of her team. As a result, she was picked up on a free transfer by North Sabrefell in Nephara, the first player to move from Savojarna to the then Premiership. From then onwards, she captained the Savojar National Team at two World Cups and wore the armband for Vermillion Rage in the Zenith - and after her retirement, went into coaching training, being called up surprisingly to the Northlights now. Tactically somewhat of a wildcard, she works together with a large batch of the team that followed her when she did her coaching training in the Rotor Värstjö youth system and the Högvald national academy and is likely to employ a solid, flexible 4-4-2 relying on quick vertical play.

Coaching Team: Ingmar Söderby, Nicolai Kruul Jensen, Knut Sörensen, Lasse Tjoer, Valtteri Andersson
Ages: 54, 42, 45, 53, 60 // Special functions: Head Scout, Video analyst, Technical coach, condition trainer, GK Coach

Ingmar Söderby has been working in the system of Libertas Bergheim for a while, where he has found gems such as Knud Vingegaard and Jakub Jaranski. He changed over to the SFFB to work at Högvald, where he was working with Maersk during her coaching education. He has been taking a more active role in the selection committee as well as strategic coaching alongside Maersk.
Nicolai Kruul Jensen and Knut Sörensen have been co-coaches with Maersk at Rotor, and for Sörensen also at Högvald. Having been signed away from the SFFB after being a technical coach at the Academy, he now returned to the national federation alongside his friend and head coach Maersk. Kruul Jensen has been the video analyst at Rotor and a former striker in the SFS B, taking a somewhat more active role in the offence while Maersk orients her focus more on the work off the ball.
Lasse Tjoer is the physical coach and condition trainer, and has previously worked for multiple SFS A teams. He places a lot of emphasis on discipline, but gives the players a large amount of freedom to tune their practice regime to their own tastes as long as they stick to the targets. He is quite popular in the team, and a good motivator.
Andersson was a long-term goalkeeper for Energie Thorsborg and got directly transferred into the club's youth department when he retired at age 33. Following some good work with the club's youth department, he got trained as a GK coach and worked with the first team and the U21 of Energie for a while before being brought onto the squad of the NT early on. He still works with Energie on the side and is reputed to be very good at developing a goalkeeper's weaknesses.

SQUAD

TEAM

Goal

Nr.	Pos.	Name			Club			M/F	Age
1	GK	Aleksandra Virulainen	Partisan Sjoedrhavn	F	33
12	GK	Konstantin Pavarenko	SK Cuprum Grennvik	M	28
20	GK	Olga Valujev		CASK Thorsborg		F	25

Aleksandra Virulainen will take the helm between the posts. She is an SFS A veteran who has won titles with Partisan, and shines through her space control and spatial awareness. On the downside, she is relatively short, putting her at a disadvantage on the line. Olga Valujev has taken over as the second goalkeeper behind her, having a relatively similar playstyle with a tiny bit more shot-stopping power and somewhat less command over her backline. She has found success, winning the IFCF Champions League with CASK Thorsborg, but is not as proven internationally. In the third position, Sergei Sharin has been replaced with Konstantin Pavarenko, who has performed exceptionally with SK Cuprum, but is relatively unlikely to play in the tournament.

Defence

Nr.	Pos.	Name			Club			M/F	Age
2	LB	Ansgar Klaey		CASK Thorsborg		M	28
5	LB/RB	Milla Viipuri		AFC Corvistone (NPH)	F	30
18	LB/RB	Henrik Halvorsen	CASK Thorsborg		M	27
3	CB	Polina Zirkova		Ulsa (EUR)		F	34
4	CB	Vidkun Nymark		Dynamo Sjoedrhavn	M	30
16	CB	Sven Vikarby		Partisan Sjoedrhavn	M	26
22	CB	Brynjar Hatun		CASK Thorsborg		M	26
24	CB	Kenneth Röysveit	SK Cuprum Grennvik	M	20
15	RB	Alvin Strid		Libertas Bergheim	M	26

On the left side, Ansgar Klaey and Milla Viipuri are similar types of players, both of them being well-balanced, somewhat conservative fullbacks who will have the ability to drive forward, but usually wait with doing so until an attack is solidly established. Both are also enduring players that can keep up with the pace of an international game for 90 minutes; Viipuri has the ability to play on both sides, adding a lot of versatility to the squad. Polina Zirkova is the undisputed organiser of the central backs, with good skills with the ball on her feet and good eyes to spot buildup opportunities. She will likely be complimented by the more defensive and calm Vidkun Nymark, but Champions League champion Brynjar Hatun - receiving his first callup to an international tournament - can be a strong alternative, and also has a lot of experience in ordering a defence at CASK Thorsborg. The fourth man in the team, Sven Vikarby, is a younger option that stands out through his uncompromising attitude and skill to deliver accurate tackles. Viipuri is likely to see significant playtime on the right side against more offensive teams, whereas Alvin Strid is the only true wingback in the squad. He is fast and technically adept, having played as a right midfielder in a 3-4-3 early in his career, and has a well-developed cross; however, he is prone to getting caught out when faced with fast, counter-attacking opposition. Henrik Halvorsen is the final option at the wingback positions, a versatile player that has seen utility play in the CASK team that won the CL, and can play as a jack of all trades, although he might be a bit of a master of none. Finally, Kenneth Röysveit has put in two impressive seasons for SK Cuprum, a very tough player that fights and tackles for his life. Having Nepharan heritage, there are rumours he is at least to some part here to lock in his allegiance to the Northlights.

Midfield

Nr.	Pos.	Name			Club			M/F	Age	
17	LM	Finn Östberg		Lokomotive Jarnstad	M	30
23	LF	Kimi Hartikainen	CASK Thorsborg		M	29
6	DM	Markko Niskanen		Newrook City (NPH)	M	30
26	DM	Alexander Ilikin	CASK Thorsborg		M	21
8	CM	Vladimir Orakhin	Goodfeather FC (NPH)	M	26
14	CM/OM	Jelena Tretjakov	Dynamo Sjoedrhavn	F	25
10	OM	Morten Poulsen		Partisan Sjoedrhavn	M	35
7	RM	Mikhail Jashkin		Directus (EUR)		M	35
21	RM	Kaisa Gyldenström	AFC Corvistone (NPH)	F	28
25	LM/RF	Ruslan Novikov		Starling (NPH)		M	23

In central midfield, all players are likely starters depending on the slant Maersk wants to give the team. Markko Niskanen, a physical and defensively very conscientious player, is the most defensive option. Steeled by the Zenith and a veteran, he is likely to take the brunt of defensive work. The other defensive option is Alexander Ilikin, a less physical and more cerebral holding midfielder, playing a good positional game and being a very decent shuttler as well. The young player has found success at CASK Thorsborg, including a Champions League win last season. Orakhin is another Zenith player who is good at shuttling the ball and known for his stamina, similar to the more offensive Jelena Tretjakov. Morten Poulsen, finally, is a veteran playmaker who has a penchant for deep runs into the box, arriving late to score himself or find a last pass. He has been captaining Partisan Sjoedrhavn for many years, and is a natural leader to drive forward play.
On the left side, Kimi Hartikainen is an offensively skilled winger who played a crucial role in CASK’s Champions League run, but can be defensively vulnerable. Against stronger, more offensive opposition, the two-way oriented Östberg is likely to start, as he is considered the best forward player in Savojarna when it comes to working backwards and defending the ball. A deadly crosser as well, he is a flexible team player. On the right side, long-time superstar Mikhail Jashkin has lost his starting spot at Directus, and is less certain to start as he used to. He is an accurate passer and crosser, and extremely conscientious player who will put himself at the team’s service at any time. Kaisa Gyldenström has speed and technique on her side, and is expected to be used situationally to provide more direct threats from the side. She is more likely to move inside than Jashkin, but is also able to provide good passes and crosses; defensively, she lacks a little compared to Jashkin, and may start in some games. Novikov is a polyvalent option, usable both as a wide midfielder for good crosses on the left or as an inside forward on the right.

Forwards

Nr.	Pos.	Name			Club			M/F	Age
9	ST	Lars Alvesen		Stahlburg City (NPH)	M	24
11	ST	Sven Ehlers		Falourr (EUR)		M	29
13	ST	Victor Hedenberg	Ibini FC (VAL)		M	28
19	ST	Rasmus Medberg Hansen	CASK Thorsborg		M	22

Up front, Sven Ehlers has grown into a star player of this side and is the likely starter, a smart player who will try to create danger from between the lines as a hanging striker. Ehlers is rather short but quick, mobile, and a good linker as well as a good finisher. Besides him, Lars Alvesen is a physical poacher that has established himself at Partisan before moving abroad this season. Using his height and strength, he likes to drive forward and slyly take chances that Ehlers sets up for him. The third option this time is Victor Hedenberg, a clever striker who likes the hanging position as well. He is less of a goal scorer and more of a player that tends to bring in his partner, winger, or offensive midfielder by playing balls backwards or sideways when there is an option. He also has a good sense of pressing and is likely to play defensive roles as well. Rasmus Medberg Hansen has been signed to CASK Thorsborg as the answer to Alvesen, and hasn’t been shining as much yet until this season, where he truly found his own place alongside Jekaterina Smolov and played a crucial role in the side’s CL victory.

STARTING XI:

TACTICS

ROLES
Captain: Poulsen - Jashkin - Zirkova - Viipuri
Free Kicks (direct): Ehlers (left, centre), Jashkin/Poulsen (right)
Free Kicks (long): Poulsen, Zirkova
Corners: Östberg (left), Jashkin/Poulsen (right)
Penalty Kick: Alvesen, Ehlers, Poulsen, Jashkin, Zirkova, Medberg Hansen, Tretjakov, Gyldenström [also progression for shooutouts]

KITS

Designed and manufactured by NDCS

by **Darmen** » Tue Dec 13, 2022 2:36 pm

National Football Team of Darmen
presented by the
Darmeni Football Association

Record (Modern-era only, since Copa Rushmori 24): 485 matches, 224 wins, 97 draws, 164 losses, 983 GF, 837 GA, .529 Win %

Caps
 1 Hyman Campo          284
 2 Silver Abbey         267
 3 Craig Blackwood      255
 4 Riley Mac Pharlain   212
 5 Alberich Goldschmidt 204
 6 Víedharr Svendsen    203
 7 Feliciano Espinosa   169
   Aurelio Di Stefano   169
 9 Juanito Stafford     165
10 Cyrus Spalding       151

Goals
 1 Craig Blackwood      168
 2 Felix Lucanus         80
 3 Skylar Hurst          49
 4 Víedharr Svendsen     47
 5 Darnell Halle         39
 6 Daniel Norton         38
 7 Riley Mac Pharlain    33
 8 Brian Firmin          30
 9 Juanito Stafford      27
   Kennard Hale          27

Coaching Staff

Position          Name                   Age
Manager           Salvador Duchamp       62
Assistant Manager Godfrey Ó Tíghearnaigh 64
Offensive Coach   Joel Kavanagh          56
Defensive Coach   Adrian Antúnez         42
Goalkeeping Coach Wilburn Joyce          47
Psychologist      Livia Spooner          55

26 Player Roster

#  Pos Name                   Age Club                  Caps Goals
 1 GK  Simon Toro             31  MTK Kingsville         23   0
 2 LB  Philip O'Hara          26  Olympique Chuckio      34   2
 3 LCB Sadiq Lucas            30  Atlético Augusta       46   1
 4 RCB Cináed Böhm            31  Scott City FC          40   0
 5 RB  Vinnie Ó Madaidhín     30  Aminey CS (KOR)        28   1
 6 LM  Kerr Park              30  Johnho United          29   4
 7 LCM Parthalán Wolfe        32  Scott City FC          76  15
 8 RCM Lennart van der Vennen 30  MTK Kingsville         53   5
 9 RM  Bill St. John          33  MTK Kingsville        147  21
10 LF  James January          24  Scott City FC          27  13
11 RF  Kennard Hale           31  Scott City FC          61  27

12 GK  Ori Poirier            30  Sterling City United   21   0
13 LB  Kyro Perrin            19  Rogerton Whitecaps      0   0
14 LCB Stefan Ryer            26  Rogerton Whitecaps      0   0
15 RCB Ferdinand Kruse        27  MTK Kingsville         53   1
16 RB  Galvão Kneib           29  Johnho United          11   0
17 LM  Fabricio Tobias        26  Scott City FC          17   2
18 LCM Víedharr Svendsen      34  Tempala United Saints 203  47
19 RCM Emerson Weaver         24  Menomonie United        0   0
20 RM  Caleb MacGowan         32  Chuckio FC             32   3
21 LF  Lennox Travers         31  Sterling City United   27   9
22 RF  Truman Ryley           24  Eau Claire United       6   0

23 GK  Corina Mendoza*        21  Rogerton Valladar CF    0   0
24 RCB Fulke Eriksen          27  Johnho United          18   0
25 LCM Sterling Allsopp       23  Darmen City United      0   0
26 RF  Marianne Lee*          23  Scott City FC           0   0

Tactics
Formation: 4-4-2
Style Mod: +1.7
In attack, Darmen will employ one of two tactics: the first involves the team playing down the flanks while the second is a possession oriented short-range passing style that closely resembles tiki-taka. The later tactic is normally only employed against weaker opponents or when Darmen has a multi-goal lead and involves connecting many passes together to slowly advance the ball towards the opponents 18-yard box. It is not uncommon for 30+ passes to be completed in the sequence, especially against weaker opponents.

Darmen's primary tactic however is a heavy emphasis on flank play, with the wide midfielders (also referred to as flankers in Darmen) being the linchpin of Darmen's attack. Upon gaining possession, Darmen will look to distribute the ball to one of the two wide midfielders as quickly as possible. After receiving the ball, the wide midfielders will look to advance the ball as far down the flanks as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, the forwards and the central midfielders will crash the box, hoping to be on the receiving end of the wide midfielder's cross. The wide midfielder (or sometimes even the fullback) on the opposite flank will linger behind waiting to collect the cross should it overshoot the box. While scoring via headers is the primary goal, a player may also look to score by volleying or half-volleying the ball if they're in open space. Should the first attempt at goal not be collected by the goalkeeper, Darmenis are more than willing to take advantage of the ensuing chaos in the box and poach a goal as well. If the wide midfielder's path forward down the flank is blocked, they are not averse to cutting inside and taking a shot on goal themselves.

Defensively, the defenders have one job... to defend. They rarely venture out of their own half, but if they do it will only be one of the fullbacks (see above). Darmen will employ zonal marking when facing the counter-attack and man marking in all other situations.

Team Roles
Captain: Parthalán Wolfe
Vice-Captain: Bill St. John
Left Corner: Parthalán Wolfe
Right Corner: Cináed Böhm
Penalties: Kennard Hale
Free-kicks: Parthalán Wolfe

Team Personality
The Darmeni team will never argue with the referee. Indeed, if anything needs to be brought to the attention of the referee it will be done by either the Captain or Vice-Captain in a respectful manner (or to the fourth-official by the Manager). With regards to foul/dirty play, the Darmeni team will not provoke, or retaliate against any opposition player. Darmeni's expect each team to keep to itself and deal with its own trouble makers; any opposition player who attempts to prevent a conflict by pushing or pulling a Darmeni away from the scene will be promptly told off, as that is the duty of the Darmeni Captain.

Nonetheless, Darmen will play in a relatively aggressive manner. Tackles will be conducted in a way which ensures the opponent ends up on the ground, but causing injury will be avoided as much as possible. On set pieces, Darmenis will stand their ground and will not be easily pushed around. However, they will not engage in hugging. In fact, if any opposing player tries to push past them, it is not uncommon for the Darmeni player to feign resistance before simply stepping aside and watching as the opposing player stumbles past on their way to ground. This occasionally backfires however, as the referee may mistake the incidence as having been a foul in the box.

RP Permissions
Choose my scorers: YES PLEASE! If you name your goal scorers, please also name mine.
Choose my scoring events: YES
Godmod scoring events: YES. If you have anything major planned, give me a heads up.
RP injuries to my players: YES, no more than one per match. If you have anything major planned, give me a heads up.
Godmod Injuries to my players: NO
Give Yellow Cards to my players: YES, no more than two per match. If you have anything major planned, give me a heads up.
Give Red Cards to my players: YES, no more than one per match. If you have anything major planned, give me a heads up.
Godmod other events: MAYBE. If you have anything major planned, give me a heads up.
Style Modifier: +1.7

If you need to contact me, TG's are preferred over Discord DM's.

by **The Askari Union** » Tue Dec 13, 2022 3:42 pm

THE ASKARI UNION
Preferred Formation: 4-2-3-1
Style Modifier: 3
Playstyle: The long spectre of Skorjiball has left a mark in a nation now trying to play more aggressive, fast-paced, energetic style.
Kit Supplier: Cloaker
Captain: Lux Siravoi
Nickname: la Delfenoj

Having survived the whirlwind of S K O R J I B A L L, the financial implosion of their league (which limps on still, just, without room for foreign players) and three political coups in short succession, the Askari belatedly limp on to new pastures. Having achieved mediocre results in the past at the regional level, it's, well, unlikely that can maintain.

Without foreign players or investment, the Legaskari is a shadow of its former self, which was in its heyday... not very good. All the best Askari players are abroad, and those who aren't yet, aspire to. There have been extensive recent overhauls, however, as the prior 'golden' generation has simply aged out. This is the weakest side in recent memory, and they'll be lucky to pick up a point.

I Give My Opponent Permission To:
=================================
Choose My Goalscorers:        Y
Godmod Goalscoring Events:    N
Injure Players:               Y
Godmod Injury Events:         N
Red Card Players:             Y
Yellow Card Players:          Y
Godmod Other Events:          N
=================================

Tactics

First-choice lineup.
The Askari have gained in confidence now, and are now able to play to their strengths. The Askari themselves tend to be smallish and more technically gifted than athletic, but a newfound emphasis on 'getting it up there' has taken over, and big lads from Eura have stabilised the spine of the team. Prior Askari sides have been more defensively focused and with an emphasis on pace, but Oslograd had taken to repeatedly yelling "THE BALL IS ROUND" at athletically-oriented plays in training, and it stuck.

Staff
Manager: Jehanne Scaletta - Age 42

Something of a coaching prodigy within the nation, Scaletta's ascended to the heady heights of being a first-team coach in the Nepharan second tier. She ... remains a coach there, but is moonlighting here in order to try and get a management job somewhere.

Goalkeepers
1 - GK - Dorothea Soumare - Age 34 - Crisisbless United (NPH)
12 - GK - Michelle Gascon - Age 32 - Dinamo Sainati
18 - GK - Gianluca Combeferre - Age 25 - SSC Honneur

Defenders
2 - RB - Iohana Mercado - Age 27 - Athletic Club Olarria (ASG)
3 - LB - Charlotte Aquilina - Age 23 - Grigio Calcio
4 - CB - Corrado Gavroche - Age 30 - Grigio Calcio
5 - CB - Agostino Montargis - Age 34 - FC Portus (NOV)
13 - LB - Riga Carcassone - Age 19 - BT Ming (CMT)
17 - RB - Estelle Condotta - Age 20 - AS Sainati
19 - CB - Hortense Agustine - Age 28 - Bul Khungur Miners FC (TKT)
24 - CB - Tessa Giaccherini - Age 20 - Stade-National

Midfielders
6 - HM - Luc Balard - Age 29 - Aznavour OSC
8 - AM - Jean-Gianni Monte - Age 29 - Hussards
10 - RW - Alessander Digne - Age 28 - Estdal (GRF)
11 - LW - Delphi Clemaron - Age 32 - Ancarea FC (TKT)
14 - CM - Valentina Cavicchi - Age 33 - Arrowsmith (EUR)
15 - AM - Camoa Villanelle - Age 22 - Blades ex Magnaeus (EOT)
16 - CM - Pierrick Chinotto - Age 24 - SSC Honneur
20 - LW - Donatella Fontaine - Age 27 - Ming (CMT)
22 - RW - Voltaire Hernandez - Age 19 - AS Sainati
23 - DM - Iago Croque - Age 29 - AS Sainati
26 - HM - Castille Blanc - Age 20 - Dinamo Sainati

Forwards
7 - ST - Sylvain Croxier - Age 34 - Alnio (CMT)
9 - ST - Renate Eskalza - Age 31 - Suttonville (EUR)
21 - ST - Olympe Riva - Age 26 - CFF Monthuez (KRY)
25 - ST - Bianca Corbeau - Age 20 - Aznavour OSC

by **Cassadaigua** » Tue Dec 13, 2022 6:41 pm

Copa Rushmori to get underway,
by Chelsea Dufresne, Concord Heights Times

There is a lot of excitement about the upcoming Copa Rushmori within Cassadaigua, that you don't need the Concord Heights Times to tell you about it! That's probably good, because our offices will be short staffed this week, and we will need to cut down on our coverage in print. There are still plenty of avenues that you can use to get updates about what will go on during the tournament, including online sources or even from other international media sources! What I can tell you right now is that the Matriarchy is in Group D, and there will be a single round robin and our bye day on matchday four. It would have been more useful to us writers if it was earlier in the campaign, but it is what it is! It's not the most difficult group, on paper, but both Nyowani Kitara and are formidable opponents. Hopefully, we'll get something out for you for each game!

by **Oberour Ar Moro** » Tue Dec 13, 2022 7:08 pm

Dominion of Oberour Ar Moro
National Football Team

Copa Rushmori 41 Roster

Details

Denonym: Oberours
Team Nickname: Dragoons
Association: Ministry of Culture Football Management Committee (FMC)
Trigramme: OAM

Staff
Position: Name, age (previous Domestic Club position)

Manager: Bertele Juillet, age 46 (National Team Assistant)
Assistant Manager: Kieran Piquereau, age 57 (former Ampuria Assistant)
Assistant Manager: Claude-François le Lieur, age 45 (University of Salmudos Head Coach)

Players
Number Position Name, age (Domestic Club (Nation if not Oberour Ar Moro))

Goalkeepers (GK)

1 Olliuier le Duc, age 34 (Port Tacassam FC (Tikariot))
12 Guillo au Feure, age 31 (Myrrh-Streamer)
24 Aven Grimoult, age 29 (Patrons)

Left Backs (LB)

2 Visant Bauldry, age 28 (Patrons)
14 Ewen de Marle, age 28 (SC Montfort (The Licentian Isles))

Right Backs (RB)

3 Tilio Lot, age 27 (Genulca Occident)
15 Amand Daribilhague, age 27 (Myrrh-Streamer)

Sweepers (SW)

10 Sebastian Chapuisseur, age 28 (Meridian)
11 Peire de Baingneus, age 26 (Regium Immortal)
22 Joeva au Paus, age 24 (Celeritas)
23 Noel l’Aulogier, age 33 (Pescium)

Left Midfielders (LM)

5 Iudicael Breut, age 27 (Hibernus)
17 Titus de Chaalons, age 26 (RC le Especier)

Right Midfielders (RM)

6 Félix d'Amienz, age 26 (Other Side of Paradise (Brookstation))
18 Ilan la Ventriere, age 25 (de la Charite)

Center Midfielders (CM)

4 Peter Clouzot, age 24 (Patrons)
16 Renan Durerie, age 30 (Anceaume)

Left Wingers (LW)

7 Ronan Vrely, age 27 (Pescium)
19 Even de Garges, age 24 (Cyrene Bay)

Right Wingers (RW)

8 Renald Gayrard, age 26 (Hibernus)
20 Theoren l’Apostoile, age 22 (Cyrene City)

Strikers (ST)

9 Pius Petitmesnil, age 29 (Cyrene Bay)
21 Noel Charles-Roux, age 28 (Regium United)

Formation

First and Second-Choice Shirts

RP Permissions

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my scorers: Yes
Choose my scoring events: Yes
Godmod scoring events: Yes, but please TG or message me on Discord beforehand
RP injuries to my players: Yes
Godmod Injuries to my players: Yes, but please TG or message me on Discord beforehand
Give Yellow Cards to my players: Yes
Give Red Cards to my players: Yes
Godmod other events: Yes, but please TG or message me on Discord beforehand

Style Modifier: +5

by **Nyowani Kitara** » Tue Dec 13, 2022 8:22 pm

Nyowani Kitara National Team

Nyowani Kitara is a nation that is a multi-ethnic nation, formerly ruled as a one party communist state, recently coming out of civil war.

For nearly 90 years, in various iterations, the country was ruled as a one-party state, with the Kitara Progressive Worker's Coalition, the nation's communist party, being the sole source and summit of political power in the nation. After brutal civil war, which sparked interest and interventions from many nations within Rushmore and beyond.

Following the war, a peace deal was signed, and free and fair elections, sponsored by Nephara, were brought to the forefront. A referendum for independence in Osterland was narrowly defeated. The peace deal seems to be holding strong, as Muhoozi Kulan was elected as President of a newly democratic Nyowani Kitara.

There are three major ethnic groups in Nyowani Kitara. The first is the Kitara, who account for approximately 57% of the population. These are black skinned people who originate as part of the Kitara tribe, in Banija, mass migrated to modern-day Nyowani Kitara in the 1840s after they were largely exiled by Banijan authorities. Because of that, they have no diplomatic relations with Banija and are largely to be considered 'radically' anti-Banijan. Radical anti-Mormon teachings from the country, alongside Communism and a dispute over who should use the name(Banija consider their own Kitara Region to be the 'true Kitara', while Nyowani Kitara believe Banija lost the rights to the name when the exilied the Kitara people), lead to heavily strained relations.

When they came to north Rushmore, They conquered the land that was dominated by a variety of white native tribes. Osterlanders(approximately 30% of the population) are the biggest native white ethnic group, with Nordlanders(6%) and Zealanders(1%) behind them. The remaining 6% are largely white immigrants and their descendants from neighboring countries (particularly Graentfjall, Tikariot, Yuezhou, and San Ortelio).

Nyowani Kitara is known for its short, yet harsh, winters. This is a small and poorer country, and therefore outdoor sports are rather popular in this corner of Rushmore. Ethnic group for each player is listed. While sports in Nyowani Kitara are integrated on gender, this team is all males.

Despite the new government being opposition controlled, the KWFA is still firmly in control by KPWC supporters, and the manager is an energetic supporter of the now former President, Nafuna Akongo.

For once, the national team is not best known for representing a war-torn nation- but for what they have done on the pitch. They surprised many when they qualified for World Cup 91, their first ever World Cup Qualification, despite everything going on around them- including maintaining their exile of quite a few NT players. They stunned many more during the past cycle. World Cup 92 Qualifying, they were down 4-0 at home, at halftime, on Matchday 1 to Saint Eleanor. But only good things from there. They won their qualification group, which included a double over The Holy Empire(then ranked the #2 team in the multiverse).

They then caught the hearts and minds of the international community, as they made their own Cinderella Run through the tournament. Their run including a 2-0 win over the eventual world champions, Zwangzug. Some criticized the run, as it had 4 draws- group stage draws against Kelssek and Farfadillis, as well as penalty shootout wins against both TJUN-ia, and Pemecutan. NYK were felled in their rematch against Zwangzug in the World Cup 92 semifinals- but still, an absolutely shocking run for them to get there.

The question remains- was the run a fluke? Nyowani Kitara riding a bunch of draws to the final four, only winning one match in 90? Or was it the foundation, the next step, as Nyowani Kitara climb the ladder? The team insists it is the latter, as they come to Mytanija with visions of glory, and a deep tournament run, dancing in their eyes.

Information
Country code: NYK
Denonym: New Kitaran
Association: Kitara's Workers Footballing Association(KWFA)
Manager: Liang Wei(Yuezhou). 55 years old. A former assistant manager for Yuezhou during their communist era, he is a good selection for the country to lead the national team. He understands the pressures of international football, and yet, as a committed communist, was definitely acceptable to the powers that be in Nyowani Kitara who hired him. He has also taken over the role of Executive Chairman of the KWFA at-large, which, functionally, makes him his own boss.

His role has become certainly more challenging. As a committed communist, he is in political opposition to the new government, but he has generated plenty of goodwill for guiding Nyowani Kitara successfully through their first ever World Cup Qualification. And with Nyowani Kitara now coming off of a stunning run to the World Cup 92 Semifinals, he's basically got this job for life- if he wants it.

Senior Assistant Manager: Raira Ouma. 45 years old.
Captain: Armoni Okombo
Alternate Captain: Odede Angonga
CR ranking: 14th
KPB ranking: 14th

RP Permissions
Choose my goalscorers: Yes
Choose Scoring Events: Yes
Godmod scoring events: No
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Yes
Hand out red cards to my players: Yes
RP Injuries to my players: Yes(please state what injury they have suffered and how many games they will miss).
Godmod injuries to my players: Yes(please state what injury they have suffered and how many games they will miss). You can kill unnamed characters(groups of fans, etc...) but cannot kill named characters(any named players/coaches, senior politicians, etc...)
Godmod other events: Yes(However, all of my nationals, players, fans, or whomever else you can think of, are banned from catching a pandemic).
Style modifier: +4.5

Roster for World Cup 92 Qualifying
Players are italicized if their first callup was Copa Rushmori XLI.
The KWFL is the country's domestic professional football league. Players are bolded if they are based abroad.
Starters: 4-4-2.
GK #1 Oduor Bigombe. 34 years old. Kitara ethnic group. Plays for 1896 Ebor in Mytanija.
RB #2 Omollo Ayange. 25 years old. Kitara ethnic group. Defected during the civil war halfway through World Cup 90 Qualifying, and banished from the NT since then until now.
CB #19 Catarina Malmquist. 26 years old. Nordland ethnic group. Female. Only woman on the team. Plays for FTC United in Zwangzug.
CB #3 Tendenka Mutsekwa. 28 years old. Kitara ethnic group. Plays for Red Star Karora in the KWFL.
LB #14 Zhou Mushonga. 30 years old. Kitara ethnic group. Plays for Keppal Cosmos in Zwangzug.
RM #7 Wang Jiahui. 32 years old. Plays for Litala '93 in Mytanija. Former Yue national who has been naturalized.
RCM #6 Arvid Handsdotter. 24 years old. Osterland ethnic group. Plays for Montreal Koreana in Quebec.
LCM #8 Kamzuni Chinwemwe. 29 years old. Kitara ethnic group. Plays for the Busukuma Force in the S-FPL.
LM #20 Olaf Svante. 31 years old. Nordland ethnic group. Plays for North Sabrefell in Nephara.[/color] Out for MDs 11-16 of Quals. Came off bench MDs 17-21 of Quals.
RS #9 Odede Angonga. 31 years old. Kitara ethnic group. Plays for Lakiska SC in Banija League Soccer. Temporary Captain.
LS #11 Owino Odede. 31 years old. Kitara ethnic group. Plays for East Dewayo in the KWFL.
Bench
GK #35 Lukusa Balela. 20 years old. Kitara ethnic group. Plays for Gugola United in the KWFL.
GK #23 Bakaji Mambuyi. 18 years old. Kitara ethnic group. Plays for CSKA Dewayo in the KWFL.
RB #33 Jekuche Jokonya. 28 years old. Kitara ethnic group. Plays for Red Star Dewayo in the KWFL.
CB #18 Obasea Somayina. 26 years old. Kitaran ethnic group. Plays for the Viljan Vultures in the KWFL.
CB #5 Örjan Qvist. 30 years old. Osterlander ethnic group. Plays for East Dewayo in the KWFL.
LB #4 Armoni Okombo. 35 years old. Kitara ethnic group. Plays for 1923 Esca in Mytanija. Regular captain. Suspended for first two games of Copa Rushmori 42 due to actions that took place in the final Qualifying match for World Cup 92.
RM #39 Christian Pichard. 21 years old. Nordland ethnic group. Plays for Red Star Dewayo in the KWFL.
CM #10 Mhara Vera. 25 years old. Kitara ethnic group. Plays for the Dewayo Mustangs in the KWFL.
CM #13 Mbũgua Kanj. 22 years old. Kitara ethnic group. Plays for Red Star Karora in the KWFL.
LM #22 Rudolph von Katzenstig. 25 years old. Osterland ethnic group. Plays for Ibarnet City FC in the KWFL.
ST/CAM #23 Josef Sparv. 24 years old. Nordland ethnic group. Plays for the Bujukamba Stallions in the KWFL.
ST #12 Lars Anders. 30 years old. Osterland ethnic group. Plays for Mubeza United in the KWFL.

Notes:
- Our free kicks are taken by Wang Jiahui. Penalties are taken by Owino Odede.

Wang Jiahui
- Wang is a mobile forward most at home as a penalty-box predator, but who also loves playing on the right wing and cutting inside to unleash long-range shots. Wang Jiahui was once conisdered the next big thing in Yue football. While his footballing talent remains, his diehard support for Ren Qiang's doomed socialist regime in Yuezhou turned him into a POW and a fugitive in the newly-established United Republics, and so he had to go abroad. Finding a home in Mytanija, he's risen to stardom with the opportunity focus solely on club football, with Litala '93. But he's itching to get back into international duty. Wang Jiahui, as a supporter of Ren Qiang, was also a very loud supporter of President Nafuna Akongo during the civil war. He even held a fundraiser for the KPWC in the early stages of the war, when it looked as if the Kitara Revolutionary Forces would collapse. Therefore, without a country, the President reached out, and gave him an award for 'special services to the state'. She also, surprisingly, gave him citizenship- a unique power of the President in the Kitaran Constitution. Despite diplomatic protests and strong protests from other FAs, as he is a Kitaran citizen, he is eligible to represent Nyowani Kitara in international competition- so his compatriot, Liang Wei, has called him up.

Kamzuni Chinwemwe
- A refugee to Banija as a result of the civil war, he has finally done what nobody has expected him to do- earned a callup to play for his country. Previously banished, on a functional level, from national team duty as a result of his anti-Akongo views, Liang Wei has finally invited him to play for the national team, in recognition of Muhoozi Kulan's ascension to the Presidency. While the remaining defectors from the World Cup 90 Qualification cycle seem unlikely to ever play for the national team ever again, Chinwemwe's call-up will only serve to further strengthen Liang Wei's position as the most powerful man in sport in NYK.

The playmaker is very talented, but also inconsistent- he has games where he lits the world on fire, and you're wondering why he doesn't play for a team like Raynor City United. Then, the next game, you're wondering how he got out of the third division. He can do it all- pass, dribble, shoot, etc... But he is very prone to fail spectacularly. Can he earn consistent playing time for the national team here as they chase for their first ever piece of silverware?

Defectors
The following players have defected from the national team during World Cup 90 Qualifying, due to opposition to the ruling regime as a result of the Civil War. They are no longer banned from the NT, but the manager doesn't ever seem likely to call them up.
RM #17 Vilgot Westermark. 34 years old. Osterland ethnic group. Starter for Matchdays 1-3. Benched for Matchdays 4 & 5 for speaking out against the ruling regime, defected and quit the NT between Matchdays 5 and 6. Currently in the process of claiming asylum in Tikariot, while his wife and children claim asylum in Eura.
LM #7 Johannes von Weber. 33 years old. Zealander ethnic group. Starter for Matchdays 1-3. Benched for Matchdays 4 & 5 for speaking out against the ruling regime, defected and quit the NT between Matchdays 5 and 6. Currently in the process of claiming asylum in Tikariot, while his wife and children claim asylum in Eura.
CM #8 Arendt Sundin. 35 years old. Osterland ethnic group. Starter for Matchdays 1-5. Defected and quit the NT between Matchdays 5 and 6 after speaking out against the regime. Claiming asylum in Chromatika.

Arvid Handsdotter
[M/He/Him] Hansdotter is being called the future of Kitaran football. While, of course, there is always some hyperbole with declarations like that from countries that are new to this, he impressed in league play in Nyowani Kitara as one of the league's most consistent players, even at his young age. While his effort defending varies wildly, he's got a laser focus when going forward. He can pin point passes, and moves well without the ball to help pull apart defenses. Almost everybody agrees that he's good enough to start for the NYK national team- however, his vocal support of Osterlander independence left him blackballed from the national team. But with a new government, Liang Wei, with an eye towards making limited concessions so KWFA power isn't stripped away from him, has brought Hansdotter to the forefront for the national team.

Group D Schedule
Matchday 1: Nyowani Kitara(14) v. Ceni(20) @ Gradski Stadion(cap. 25,000) in Mlin, Ibon, Thessia, Mytanija
Matchday 2: Cassadaigua (2) v. Nyowani Kitara(14) @ Novi Kaunostadion(cap. 54,000) in Zenit Toranj, Thessia, Thessia, Mytanija
Matchday 3: Nyowani Kitara(14) v. Isle Noire(26) @ Novi Kaunostadion(cap. 54,000) in Zenit Toranj, Thessia, Thessia, Mytanija
Matchday 4: Rea San Vegas (UR) v. Nyowani Kitara(14) @ Gradski Stadion(cap. 25,000) in Mlin, Ibon, Thessia, Mytanija
Matchday 5: BYE

by **Poais** » Tue Dec 13, 2022 9:44 pm

POAIS NATIONAL TEAM

1. Bryson Riggs
2. Gus Cullen
3. Jasper Honnet
4. Michael Rushden
5. Ashley Sheeton
6. Paul McRondell
7. Dean Ramsford
8. Frank Tyson (captain)
9. Patrick Leyland
10. Ryan Ridermark
11. Sam Constance
----
12. Nick Hooker
13. Ross Chandler
14. Luke Blacken
15. Damian Tomlinson
16. Shane Coyne
17. Peter Lothley
18. Aaron Manger

by **Isle Noire** » Tue Dec 13, 2022 9:58 pm

In the borderline between darkness and light, there is a zone of gray. Some find that gray to be disconcerting; other find it to be unpleasant. For the Islanders that hail from Noire, that gray is life.

Nobody knows how it is that Isle Noire exists in the pocket dimension of black and white. The best minds of the island have not been able to discover how the dimension came to be. There is a rip that shrinks and grows in cycles of time, but they've been lucky to figure out a device that can open a tear and close it at will, up to a space of twenty feet.

That is how the Noireans have been able to traverse to the lit world. In their trips to the Lit World, all in the guise of football, they've started to learn more and more about how light is different in the Lit World than back home. This has broadened the understanding of the Norean plane considerably, but it wasn't enough.

"We need to establish a foothold somewhere in the Lit World to continue studying," stated Mylika Santan, the lead scientist on Lit World Light, "That will require us to establish relations. There are some that have shown interest, but we need to send more than just footballers into the Lit World."

This has caused some debate in the Noirean community, as some view the Lit World as taboo.

President Isten Bunil has agreed to the proposal, sending a contingent of diplomats. Their goal is simple: Get in contact with one of the nations of the Lit World, and establish an embassy to get permission to build a science center.

by **Three Golden Kingdoms** » Tue Dec 13, 2022 10:27 pm

Choose my goalscorers Y
Godmod Scoring Events Y
RP injuries to my players N
Godmod injuries to my players N
Hand out Yellow cards to my players Y
Hand out Red cards to my players Y
Godmod Other Events Y

Three Golden Kingdoms Roster
Nickname: Imperial Guard

Home Away

Modifier: +2

Imperial Names are written in the Eastern Naming System.

Manager: Tian Jiang, age 44
Assistant: Deng An, age 42
Physio: Xu Jiahao, age 41

Starters
GK: Tao Xiuying, age 31
LB: Chen Lan, age 26
CB: Hou Xia, age 31
CB: Du Wu, age 24
RB: Quan Guanting, age 27
DMC: Gong Jing, age 32 (C)
LW: Han Qiang, age 30
RW: Bai Jing, age 26
ST: Zheng Lei, age 27
ST: Yan Shui, age 32 (VC)
ST: Zi Jun, age 29

Reserves
GK: Gao Li, age 26
GK: Xun Jiahao, age 23
LB: Liang Hai, age 24
CB: Liao Xiaosi, age 22
CB: Ding Rong, age 32
RB: Xing Xieren, age 34
DMC: Lian Bao, age 26
LW: Qian Zhi, age 23
RW: Yin Yazhu, age 24
A/MC: Li Yi, age 26
ST: Xu Zihao, age 22
ST: Chang Hui, age 24

by **Captina Island** » Tue Dec 13, 2022 11:10 pm

The Captina Company Football Agency

The Captina Company Football Agency (TCCFA) controls all levels of football in the nation, issuing licenses to groups wishing to form teams. The Captina Company Super League consists of 14 teams playing every opponent once between April & June then following a 2 month break, play every opponent again between September & November.
STYLE: -1.7
Tactics: 4-3-3 classic Italian system—right wing shuttles back & forth from front to back, left back pushes forward, left midfielder attacks into forward areas, central & defensive mids control the center.
Lineup: Numbers 1-11

The Captina Company National Team makes their third appearance in the Copa Rushmori, but are a vastly different side than the one that failed to score in Ceni and still are looking for their first ever CR point.
Baptism of Fire 79 and World Cup Qualifying have seen the TCCNT prove their competitive mettle, winning 9 and drawing 6 from the 25 matches played over that span.

Manager--Timoteo Greco
Coaches—Donato Pagano, Abele Ricci

GK
 1  Pierluigi Neri		GK	29	AC Geneva City
20  Bernardo Rossi		GK	28	Calcio Captina

DEF
 4  Paolo Marchetti		CB	31	IMA Port Genoa
 2  Gianluca Vecchi		RB	30	Flint AC
 5  Emilio Coppola		LB	27	TCC Geneva
17  Alfonso Vastano		L/CB	26	Punto Nord AC
 3  Emerson Coverdale	        CB	28	SEC Fairmont
18  Isaia Caruso		R/CB	27	Club Rosso Oro Nero
22  Tonio Harold Owenby	        LB/RB	26	Brandstadter Clarksburg

MID
 6  Santos Abrego		DM	29	Clarksburg FC
 7  Lazzaro Garganese	        RM	28	Calcio Captina
16  Emilio Rizzuto		L/CM	25	Brandstadter Clarksburg
20  Emanuele Valentini	        R/CM	27	AC Geneva City
11  Daniele Vozzo		LM	29	CNO North Point
 8  Samuele Vozzo		CM	29	Port Genoa Calcio
13  Charleston DiCanio	        W/RM	24	TBG Big Flint
21  Barnabas Morningstar	DM/W	23	SEC Fairmont

FWD
12  Alesandro Mercardi	        CF	26	Flint AC
10  Guiseppi Overstreet	        ST	24	Fairmont City SC
14  Vincenzo Villa		WF	27	TCC Geneva
 9  Pietro Illuminato		CF	31	Calcio Captina
15  Giorgio Fontana		ST	26	IMA Port Genoa

In the event my opponent RPs first, they may...

Choose my goalscorers: YES
Godmod scoring events: YES
RP injuries to my players: YES, but those that would be for just the duration of the match (TG in advance would be appreciated as well)
Godmod injuries to my players: See Above
Hand out yellow cards to my players: YES
Hand out red cards to my players: YES, but again, a heads up in advance is appreciated, as I would do for you.
Godmod other events: TG what you have in mind, I'm easy to come to an understanding with

by **Gnejs** » Wed Dec 14, 2022 3:45 am

The Local is a Common Tongue online magazine covering domestic gnejsian issues for non-native speakers living in The Union. Coverage include current events, politics and sports, amongst other things. Its readers mainly consist of the newly arrived or those visiting.

The Local

Sports

Allgnejsan 2023 – a quick guide
By: Johanne Gustafson

Into football but feeling lost about Union context? Curious about the teams in the top tier? Wondering whom to support for the 2023 season? Fear no more, The Local’s quick guide will bring you up to speed.

Allgnejsan 2023 - The teams

Allmänna Gränd Idrottsförening
The “second” team from the city of Hagen in the west. Founded in 1910 as a general sports association, started fielding a football team in 1925. Named after an alley of the same name in the cities old quarters (Allmänna Gränd = Public Alley). Glory days in the 1970’s, mainstays in the top tier since the 1950’s. Last won Allgnejsan in 1996. Plays 3-5-2. Key player: centre-back Lennart Horndal and midfielder Daniel Jones. Ended the 2022 season in 3rd place.

Main rival: IFK Hagen (not in Allgnejsan).
Minor rivalries: BK Rösunda, Welmia IF (not in Allgnejsan) (regional).
Colors: white and red, vertically striped jerseys.
Pundits’ predictions for 2023: top 5.

Bollklubben Rösunda
Perpetual mid-table team from the city of Stordal in the west. Founded in 1952, named after a suburban area just north of the city (where it was founded). They have never won an Allgnejsa, but ended runners-up in 1968, 1975 and 2000. Plays 4-4-2. Key player: midfielders Nicolai Enger and Johannes Dahl. Ended the 2022 season in 7th place.

Main rival: Stordal IF (not in Allgnejsan).
Minor rivalries: Welmia IF (not in Allgnejsan), BK Rösunda, Allmänna Gränd (regional).
Colors: white and black, vertically striped jerseys.
Pundits’ predictions for 2023: mid-table, of course.

Briskeby Ballklubb
One of the classical “old” clubs. Founded in 1873 in the city of Briskeby on the eastern coast. Enjoys the honor of having won the most Allgnejsan titles, among them the inaugural one in 1924. Plays 5-3-2 and draws inspiration from “northern” football, but often utilize their fullbacks for offense. Key players: defender Stefan Grålum and forward Phaedo Svensson. Only fellow “old club” Kejm BK can rival Briskby in terms of number of players in the national team (four each). Ended the 2022 season in 1st place. Current champions.

Main rival: Grünerhagen VF.
Minor rivalries: Dalströmma BK, Vasakamraterna (regional), Finntorp IK, IFK Segeltorp, Kejm BK, Storängens IF, IFK Hagen (”old clubs”)
Colors: moss green, plain jerseys.
Pundits’ predictions for 2023: top 5.

Dalströmma Bollklubb
The top club from the eastern city of Dalströmma. Founded in 1960 and no stranger to Allgnejsan, although they’ve spent the last three seasons in the second tier. They came out on top in 2022 and were promoted for the upcoming season together with IFK Nesby. After a solid 2022 display both fans and pundits alike expect them to re-establish themselves. Plays 4-4-2. Key players: midfielder Jan Östberg and forward Georg Bardo.

Main rival: Dalströmma IK (not in Allgnejsan).
Minor rivalries: Briskeby BK, Grünerhagen VF, Vasakamraterna (regional)
Colors: green and black, vertically striped jerseys.
Pundits’ predictions for 2023: mid-table.

Finntorp Idrettsklubb
Yet another one of the “old” clubs with roots back to the late 1870’s and early 1880’s, and one of the big northern clubs. As a sports association they are involved in more sports than just football, and have a large youth program. Finntorp trails Briskeby as the team with the second most Allgnejsan titles. They were the dominant force during the late 1980’s, the 1990’s and early 2000, when legendary coach Bjørnstjerne Eriksen led them to multiple victories. Plays 5-4-1 and still maintain their golden day’s philosophy of “northern football”. Disappointing results of late, and they have struggled in making a generational shift. Many key players are starting to get old, among them defensive midfielder (and Dandelion) Jack Wijk. Other key players include centre-back Skule Snøfugl and fullback Erlend Nilsen (also old). Ended the 2022 season in 10th place.

Main rivals: IFK Segeltorp, Njaard IF, IFK Nordstjernan, Gressbakken BK (not in Allgnejsan).
Minor rivalries: Kejm BK, Storängens IF, Briskeby BK, IFK Hagen (”old clubs”).
Colors: red and yellow, horizontally striped jerseys.
Pundits’ predictions for 2023: mid-table.

Grünerhagen Vennskapsforening
The “second team” from the city of Briskeby. A relatively young club, only founded in the 1980’s, and used to living in the shadow of “big brother” Briskeby BK in terms of football. Sport association and involved in a number of different sports. Tennis is one example, but they’ve recently also started their own cracquet team. Plays in a somewhat unusual 4-3-3 formation. Key players include striker Nils Morker and midfielder Thom Tiller. Ended the 2022 season in 6th place.

Main rival: Briskeby BK.
Minor rivalries: Dalströmma BK, Vasakamraterna (regional).
Colors: yellow and purple, horizontally striped jerseys.
Pundits’ predictions for 2023: mid-table.

Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna Nesby
The other newcomer. A multisport club from the western city of Nesby. Founded in the 1920’s, they were mainly focused on winter sports to being with, and only started having regular football training sessions during the 1940’s and fielded a full squad for the first time in 1954. Won Allgnejsan in 1968 and 1971. Plays 3-4-3. Ended the 2022 season as runner up of the second tier. Key players include midfielder Henrik Josefsson and defender Birk Andersson. Expected to struggle in Allgnejsan.

Main rival: AIK Nesby (not in Allgnejsan).
Minor rivalries: Lokomotiv Esaias.
Colors: white and dark blue, vertically striped jerseys.
Pundits’ predictions for 2023: bottom 5.

Idrettsforeningen Kameratene Nordstjernan
A general sports association from the city of Ursvika on the northern coast. Founded in 1912 but only started fielding a football team in the 1950’s. Regarded as an “upstart” by the other old northern clubs Finntorp IK and IFK Segeltorp. Won Allgnejsan in 1999, 2001 and 2002. Plays 5-4-1, like many of the other northern clubs. Just can’t seem to make things work at the moment, and have had a couple of weak seasons of late. Ended the 2022 season in 14th place and had to go through a playoff against Grönland BK from Port Kejm to continue playing in the top tier. While they won comfortably, they are still expected to struggle in the upcoming season. Key players include defender August Bjørneboe and brothers Cornelis and Henrik Ceder (forward and goalkeeper).

Main rival: Finntorp IK, IFK Segeltorp, Njaard IF (regional).
Minor rivalries: Briskeby BK, Grünerhagen VF.
Colors: dark and light blue, vertically striped jerseys.
Pundits’ predictions for 2023: bottom 5.

Idrettsforeningen Kameratene Segeltorp
The pride and joy of the city of Segeltorp on the northern coast. The sports association was founded in 1874, and it is one of the “old” clubs, but only started playing football in the late 1880’s. Won a string of titles in the 1930’s, 40’s and 60’s. Struggled to achieve much of note during the “Finntorp era”, but have stepped out of its rival’s shadow after the turn of the millennium and is now widely considered the strongest northern side. Plays 5-4-1 and ended the 2022 season in 4th place. Key players include defenders Lennart Svensson-Andersson and Svein Sjark and attacking midfielder Niels Strand.

Main rival: Finntorp IK, IFK Segeltorp, IFK Nordstjernan, Njaard IF (regional).
Minor rivalries: Briskeby BK, Kejm BK, Storängens IF, IFK Hagen (”old clubs”).
Colors: orange and black, vertically striped jerseys.
Pundits’ predictions for 2023: top 5.

Kejm Bollklubb
One of the big clubs from the capital city of Port Kejm. Founded in 1882 and one of the “old” clubs. Placed third in the running for most Allgnejsan titles. Historically hails from the east side of town, although dispersion of fans in modern days is more widespread. Plays 5-3-2. A strong team of late, they won two consecutive Allgnejsan in 2020 and 2021. Ended the 2022 season in 2nd place after an embarrassing defeat against already relegated Welmia IF on the final match day. Key players include defender David Knardal, midfielders Didrik Nes and Cratylus Hansen and forward Vasco Clavell.

Main rival: Storängens IF, Grönland BK (not in Allgnejsan).
Minor rivalries: Briskeby BK, Finntorp IK, IFK Segeltorp, IFK Hagen (“old clubs”).
Colors: blue and gold, plain blue jerseys.
Pundits’ predictions for 2023: top 5.

Lokomotiv Esaias
One of the two big southron clubs, and the main club from the city of Esaias. General sports association founded in 1900 that started playing football in 1905. Undoubtedly old, but generally not considered one of the “old” clubs (much to their annoyance). A strong side during the 1960’s and 1970’s. Had a slight surge in the early 2010’s, but have been firmly placed in the low mid-table the last couple of years. Plays 4-3-3 and puts great emphasis on speed. Ended the 2022 season in 11th place. Key players include attacking defenders Simon Naess and Mikael Fauster and midfielder Göran Drake.

Main rival: Norrholmia IK, AIK Esaias (not in Allgnejsan), IFK Sørtangen (not in Allgnejsan).
Minor rivalries: IFK Nesby
Colors: canary yellow and light blue, plain yellow jerseys.
Pundits’ predictions for 2023: bottom 5

Njaard Idrettsforening
The “second” team from the city of Finntorp on Ecpatia on the northern coast. Founded in the 1960’s as a general sports association and started fielding a football team early on. A perpetual “little brother” to Finntorp IK, but tables have turned somewhat of late, where Njaard has finished above Finntorp IK in the league table the last three seasons. Ended the 2022 season in 8th place. Plays 5-4-1. Key players include midfielders Sokrates Nilsen and Herman Fjell.

Main rival: Finntorp IK, Gressbakken BK (not in Allgnejsan).
Minor rivalries: IFK Segeltorp, IFK Nordstjernan (regional)
Colors: yellow and black, vertically striped jerseys.
Pundits’ predictions for 2023: mid-table.

Nokkeby Ballklubb
The main team from the inland city of Nokkeby. Founded in the 1990’s, teasingly called “the yoyos” due to their propensity for regularly being relegated/promoted from and to Allgnejsan. Newcomers in 2022 and to everyone’s surprise they managed to stay on. Plays 5-3-2 and ended the 2022 season in 12th place with only nine wins (the biggest numbers of draws saved them from the very bottom). Expected to struggle. Key players: Erik Ryr and Oscar Enner, both midfielders.

Main rival: IFK Frisk (not in Allgnejsan).
Minor rivalries: Kejm BK, Storängens IF.
Colors: old gold, plain jerseys.
Pundits’ predictions for 2023: bottom 5.

Norrholmia Idrottsklubb
The other big southron club. Founded as a general sports association in 1910 in the city of Norrholmia, started playing football in the 1930’s. Have won Allgnejsan twice. Plays 4-3-3 in traditional “southron” style. Ended the 2022 season in 13th place and only narrowly escaped qualification playoffs. Expected to struggle. Key player: midfield playmaker Nicho Tistel.

Main rival: Lokomotiv Esaias, IFK Sørtangen (not in Allgnejsan).
Colors: maroon and brown, plain maroon jerseys.
Pundits’ predictions for 2023: bottom 5.

Storängens Idrottsförening
The other big club from the capital city of Port Kejm. Like its rival Kejm BK, SIF was Founded in 1882 and is the last of the “old” clubs currently playing in Allgnejsan. Historically hails from the west side of town. Plays 4-4-2. Have won Allgnejsan several times, but the big glory days where most of those titles were claimed dates back to the 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s. Ended the 2022 season in 5th place. Key players include defender Carl Benedictsen, midfielder Daniel Nyström and forward Christoffer Andersson.

Main rival: Kejm BK, Grönland BK (not in Allgnejsan).
Minor rivalries: Briskeby BK, Finntorp IK, IFK Segeltorp, IFK Hagen (“old clubs”).
Colors: green, white and yellow, vertically green and white striped jerseys.
Pundits’ predictions for 2023: top 5.

Vasakamraterna
Founded in 2010 in the city of Vasa on the eastern coast. Have risen like a comet through the low tiers of the domestic football system. Allgnejsan newcomer (and first-timer) in 2022 that performed respectfully and ended up in 9th place. Enjoys enthusiastic support in Vasa, a city that has waited a long time to once again be represented in the top tier of Union football. Plays 5-3-2. Key players include defender Karl-Johan Kärv and midfielder Sigurd Åboo.

Main rival: Dalströmma BK, AIK Vasa (not in Allgnejsan).
Minor rivalries: Briskeby BK, Grünerhagen VF.
Colors: blue, yellow and black, horizontally striped jerseys.
Pundits’ predictions for 2023: mid-table

------------------------------------
A map of the Prosaic Union. For reference. Please ignore the light green lands to the west; Gnejs is an island.

by **Nephara** » Wed Dec 14, 2022 8:49 am

NEPHARA
World Ranking: 11th, ish
Preferred Formation: 4-2-3-1
Secondary Formation: 4-4-2
Style Modifier: -1
Home Stadium: The Farham Arena in Sabrefell is reserved for the biggest games, but Nephara is a large enough country that it spreads its matches across the nation.
Kit Supplier: Kirola
Nickname: The Cormorants

A distinctly indifferent World Cup starting with a concerning qualifying and ending on back-to-back defeats was not even remotely what the fans wanted to see. But Igrene Cantor is a born winner, and her ego will not allow her to be wrong.

As ever, Nephara arrive among the favourites, although they enter under something of a cloud. Aranea Provost announced her international retirement against Cantor's wishes, refusing to be a mere backup goalkeeper. And, as tends to be the case, rightback is an unresolved problem position. But they have Felixe Vetiver, who was out for much of the World Cup, so it will probably be okay.

Overall Record
662 wins - 131 draws - 155 losses
2212 scored - 1122 conceded

Trophies
Baptism of Fire 51
Cup of Harmony 61
World Cups 74 and 87
Eagle's Cup 5
4 Cope Rushmori - 30, 35, 36, 37
5 Campionati Esportiva - 6, 8, 10, 15 and 18
Only the second nation in history to achieve the 'Triple Crown' of WCC titles - represented by three stars on the crest.
The most major silverware of any nation in history.
Second in footballing ability only to 6PupperFunnerRunnies.

I Give My Opponent Permission To:
=================================
Choose My Goalscorers:        Y*
Godmod Goalscoring Events:    N
Injure Players:               Y**
Godmod Injury Events:         N
Red Card Players:             Y***
Yellow Card Players:          Y
Godmod Other Events:          N
=================================

* Kvasina takes set pieces and penalties.
** I'll have the final say on how long the player will be out, but feel free to make them look severe as you want.
*** One per match.

Tactics

Nepharan football is based around playing hard, pressing aggressively, playing for keeps. Occasionally this leaves gaps behind the high defensive line, though most Nepharan goalkeepers are in the sweeping mould these days to compensate. Marchers are, by and large, a physically imposing folk, and eager to throw their size around. The footballing culture is intensely competitive, and those that survive to make their way to the top are hellbent on winning at any cost. Elbows to the face. Subtle digs in the ribs. Diving is dishonest when opponents do it but streetwise when Nepharim do it. In short, Nephara are the bully from two years above who picked you, specifically, out as a natural target.

That is often the foreign perspective, but it overlooks a key fact; Nepharan football can honestly be beautiful to watch. Generations of players brought up on dry plains or asphalt play the ball quickly and fearlessly along the ground, never sideways when there's a forward option open, always looking to stretch and probe and stay one really good pass away from a goal. Nepharim are undoubtedly physical, even cynical, but their success has been built off the backs of ruthless, fast-paced passing football.

Cantor did not enjoy success with her preferred 4-4-2, but a switch to 4-2-3-1 proved very effective late in qualifying, turning the Cormorants' results around at the decisive moment. Their formation is fairly rigid and disciplined, with plenty of strength all across the pitch, particularly in the forms of Southsea ahead of Scales and Clevinger in the heart of defence, as well as the versatile Madita Brewer, playing an active, roving role behind Vetiver.

Common Substitutes
If their attacking approach isn't working, then the most clear switches of approach are to take off Brewer (or Anharbour, with Brewer shifting to the right wing) and bring on either the silky playmaker Kvasina, or, as a 'break glass in case of emergencies' option, the veteran Latona Basilisk to partner Vetiver up front. Vetiver will never be taken off the field if Nephara need a goal.
March will frequently be replaced in midfield by the more physical Tasha Sauber (defensive option) or Swainsona (attacking option); if booked or beaten for pace, Southsea may be replaced by the younger, raw-boned but less technical Rosziter.
The fullbacks have to do a lot of work, and Cantor will frequently substitute on Xu or Rake just as a fresh set of legs late in the game.

The Godhead
For home matches, and during international tournaments, Nephara wheels out the 'Godhead', a giant boulder with an eerie resemblance to Gethin Ramsey, first manager of the Cormorants in the modern era and by now long dead. Nepharim have a superstitious streak, and while nobody's saying it is, in fact, the mystic reincarnation of their most iconic leader, nobody's quite not saying it, either. The Godhead is traditionally 'walked' to the stadium by Nepharan ultras using an intricate series of ropes, and often a flare is wedged into its 'mouth' to simulate a smoking cigar.

Staff
Manager - Igrene Cantor - Age 52
Assistant Manager - Valery Cain - Age 56
One of the few people to have won the World Cup as both a player and a manager, Igrene Cantor excels at building chemistry and a true, tight-knit unit, squeezing the absolute most out of the parts available to her. An absolute dream to a Nephara side that can often be less than the sum of its parts. Cantor thinks of each player in terms of what they bring to the complete picture, not just as a rating out of a hundred; she won't just pick the best eleven players, but a coherent, fully functioning squad that would die for each other on the pitch. Cain is an odd choice of assistant manager, a journeyman manager across Nephara's pyramid, yet somehow Cantor clearly sees a kindred spirit.

Goalkeepers
1 - GK - Medusa Strand (

Chromatik) - Age 27 - 21 caps, 10 clean sheets
A steady, focused personality, or perhaps no personality at all. Strand is a superb shot-stopper who did not let a few errors early in her career get her down, and the dividends have paid off. Her decisiveness coming off her line, command of her area and ability to sweep behind the defensive line have made her Cantor's preferred goalkeeper.

12 - GK - Toxothea Sebring (

Crisisbless) - Age 26 - 9 caps, 2 clean sheets
A tall, graceful goalkeeper, with a slightly ungainly look disguising remarkable agility between the sticks. Has an oddly prowling gait. Her error-strewn Eagles Cup filled nobody with confidence, but she's not about to let that get her down; her club form has been excellent for years, and in the event of disaster she'll confidently step up to the task.

20 - GK - Tanith Arrowsmith (

Dynamo Sjoedrhavn) - Age 31 - 16 caps, 6 clean sheets
An excellent shot-stopper whose skillset lends itself to high-pressing sides who need pacy sweeping and good distribution - just like the Cormorants. Her sole issue is that she tends to argue a lot with everyone around her. It's quickly forgiven and forgotten... on her end, at least. Nevertheless, Arrowsmith has done excellently in the Eagles Cup and has more than earned her place in the team. Probably no longer Nephara's third-best goalkeeper, but here for the #vibes.

Defenders
2 - RB - Solblindi Rake (

Sabrefell Moths) - Age 24 - Uncapped
A hard-bitten, tough-tackling rightback. Nominative determinism has made itself known; he's short and sturdy, and doesn't look like he should be as fast as he is. He combines brutalist challenges and stalwart defending with the ability to snap off magnificent crosses from nothing.

3 - LB - Radeka Lind (

Jinja City FC) - Age 30 - 102 caps, 10 goals
WC87 Champion
Captain
Lind still looks somewhat coltish, but it belies her unerring eye for a challenge. It's Lind's unabashed love of taking the ball away from people that's her standout in a country that tends to like its fullbacks forward at every opportunity; Lind swings in a vicious cross, but her inherent caution is well-suited to the international game. By now, firmly established as one of the greatest defenders of the generation, and a universally respected captain.

5 - CB - Reniira Clevinger (

Herzegovina City FC) - Age 33 - 132 caps, 20 goals
WC87 Champion
The first half-satyr - indeed, the first non-fullblooded human - to represent the national team, Clevinger essentially looks like a hulking 6'8" woman with blue skin and stubby, vestigial horns poking out of her scalp. Unsurprisingly, she's also the tallest person in Cormorants history. That's handy as a centre-half, and she's scored goals at the big tournaments. She's been a Cormorants stalwart for years, now, and has finally found a reliable partner in Scales.

6 - CB - Anaximander Scales (

Brinemouth) - Age 26 - 52 caps, 3 goals
An absolutely massive, bruising defender, Scales' ability to bulldoze and bully forwards without ever quite fouling them is genuinely remarkable. He's not going to set any records for pace - most likely, he'd struggle to catch up to your average pitch invader - but with his effortless calm, maturity and gift for correct anticipation, he's thus far proven the worthy central defensive partner Clevinger has been crying out for for years.

17 - RB / LB - Kyri Levering (

Northern Union) - Age 26 - 26 caps, 3 goals
An absolutely electric fullback who loves racing forward with the wind in her sails. Is she quite at the highest level defensively? No, and she wouldn't pretend she is. But she's right up there with the best at opening up defences, intelligent overlapping runs and low, sweeping crosses that leave her fellow defenders no easy answers. The defensive side of her game has come a long way in a short time in Brenecia, where she's also been forced onto the right side, making best use of her two-footedness.

18 - CB - Sven Copperhead (

Crisisbless) - Age 27 - 23 caps, 1 goal
An earnest bruiser, Copperhead's massive but deceptively fast. He loves defending, getting stuck in and smashing people; a little impetuous for international level, perhaps, but if you need a man to stick his head in front of a shot, he's there.

22 - CB - Ettard Mitteager (

AFC Treason) - Age 25 - 7 caps
Hard-bitten but with a soft touch on the ball, Mitteager has quietly stepped up as one of the most reliable Nepharan defenders out there. Never flashy, and notoriously introverted off the pitch, which has perhaps lead to her being underestimated over the years. But you'll notice, players - especially opposing strikers - always rate her highly.

25 - LB - Tanith Xu (

Myana) - Age 22 - 9 caps
Seen as Nephara's best up-and-coming defender, hatchet-faced Xu's severe affect and features lend her an aura of authority well beyond her years. She's a jack of all trades, able to drop into midfield, bolt on the overlap and properly defend equally well, and her razor-sharp intelligence means she can make the most of that versatility.

Midfielders
4 - HM - Cassander Southsea (

Brinemouth) - Age 25 - 30 caps, 1 goal
An intelligent, metronomic midfielder with a dazzling passing range, but also an assertive tackler who can firmly wrest the ball off opponents while reliably not drawing the foul. Southsea can be pretty much anything you'd want out of either midfielder in a double pivot, far more than the water carrier his name seems to imply.

7 - RW - Kestrel Anharbour (

Crisisbless) - Age 25 - 39 caps, 7 goals
Lightning-quick, two-footed and direct, Anharbour's not the most orthodox winger; she wants to use her physical and technical gifts to get inside fullbacks and cause damage. A cheerful sort who doesn't let much get her down, Anharbour just obviously really loves to play the game, and it shows and enriches her play.

8 - CM - Renate March (

Herzegovina City FC) - Age 28 - 32 caps, 6 goals
March has risen up the ranks from the lower leagues. Any purely technical player at that level will get the legs hacked under them, so March had to learn not just to be better than those around her, but quicker, harder and nastier, too. She's taken these lessons to heart even as her career has blossomed. Cantor doubted her at the outset, for whatever reason, but it turns out nobody can tie together the midfield like she can.

11 - LW - Arachne Loeher (

Stahlburg City) - Age 22 - 4 caps, 1 goal
Loeher's what's known in Nephara as an 'asphalt footballer'. Quick on her feet, but more nimble in the tight spaces than pacy on an open stretch of plain. She likes sending others to the cold, hard ground, but has got an inhuman reflex at skipping over challenges that would send her tumbling and skin her knees. Streetwise, creative, and going from strength to strength.

13 - RW / AM - Madita Brewer (

Northern Union) - Age 22 - 21 caps, 6 goals
Brewer's origins are curious; she's from an off-the-grid community in the Laith, but fortunately was able to step out into the world of running water and wi-fi connections long enough for her brilliance to get noted and picked up by a club. Originally developed as a pure playmaker, Brewer's bright and coachable, picked up new positions eagerly, and can play across most midfield roles or up front. That versatility helps her no matter where she's positioned, and she can be dangerous from anywhere on the pitch.

15 - CM - Tasha Sauber (

Spartangrad) - Age 26 - 41 caps, 7 goals
A very odd case. An immensely promising box-to-box midfielder from an early age, her form for country never quite reached her billing, and her club form fell off a cliff. Clearly needed a reboot, and got one in the unforgiving environment of Eura. Cantor tried to rehabilitate her, and succeeded partway, but she lost her starting place to March. There's still room for a redemption arc...

16 - LW - Ana Crowcombe (

Rülândéá Kôstä) - Age 25 - 26 caps, 6 goals
Originally trained as a striker, Crowcombe's stubborn refusal to grow above 5'2" made it inevitable she'd be shunted out to the wing. It proved inspired. Crowcombe is near impossible to peg down on the pitch through her quick wits, quicker feet and obscenely slippery movement. The only question marks concern her finishing and her mercurial state of mind, with reports from Farfadillis suggesting she goes through multiple mental breaks a year. It's probably fine.

19 - HM - Chandra Rosziter (

Dynamo Sjoedrhavn) - Age 22 - 6 caps
Tall and powerful, Rosziter locks down the centre of the pitch with wandering elbows, a commandable aggression out of possession and an underrated passing range with the ball. Some defensive midfielders go unnoticed, even when they're doing a good job. Not Rosziter, whose approach demands a warning klaxon.

23 - CM / AM - Kurtis Swainsona (

Revolutionaries) - Age 23 - 10 caps, 3 goals
A tough, all-action midfielder who excels at brawling and late goalscoring arrivals into the box. He's not the most flashy technician by any stretch but he always makes his mark felt, and has proven very effective for Nephara between the lines, using his brawn and brain to good effect while also pressing hard more than a traditional playmaker.

24 - RW - Dimitra Conder (

Cuono Rangers) - Age 27 - 4 caps, 1 goal
A rough diamond. Conder's a young winger who pretty much single-handedly chose to bear the burdens of her entire side, someone who just looks like she's... having fun. Nobody really expected her to reach the Cormorants, but like many, she's rode the rising tide in Tumbran club football. The most orthodox by far of Nephara's right wingers; if someone just needs to swing in a cross, that's her job.

26 - AM - Lindse Kvasina (

Istria City FC) - Age 27 - 49 caps, 12 goals
Kvasina's arrogant even by Nepharan standards, a diva reputation backed up by an ample supply of talent, guts and graft. She's hard work off the pitch, but at least she'll work hard on it. Even if she didn't, though, her natural poise on the ball and talent for improvisation would make up for it all. Poses far more of a risk off the pitch than on it.

Forwards
9 - ST - Vasya Reisinger (

West Cuono United) - Age 28 - 15 caps, 5 goals
A hulking powerhouse, attractive in an Amazonian kind of way, and the kind of person who believes in a type-A personality and specifically that she possesses one. Cantor's preferred muscular spearhead, and while her role in this squad is undeniably as a Plan B, her effectiveness is just as apparent.

10 - ST - Bravura Harper (

Ulsa) - Age 27 - 53 caps, 25 goals
A brash, swaggering striker, Harper loves taking on first-time shots, and her hammer of a left boot ensures that isn't a waste of a chance. Backs herself to get on the scoresheet, sets herself high expectations, and reliably meets them. She's relentlessly single-minded in pursuit of perfection, and doesn't really have any interests outside football. But evaluated as a footballer, not a dinner companion, you won't find fault.

14 - ST - Latona Basilisk (

Mâ Âlâmëómë) - Age 35 - 93 caps, 52 goals
C75 Young Galactico, WC87 Champion
Basilisk is self-assured to the point of parody, right to the point of having made 'Basilisking' - purported to be her petrifying stare one-on-one with goalkeepers - not only part of her brand, but trademarked. So you'd better believe it matters to say: she's very nearly as good as she thinks she is. Moxham decided only Basilisk had the moxie to pull off the 21 without her. Then came back to reclaim it. Now she's gone again. Then Basilisk missed WC91 through injury and never got called back up, and Vetiver took her shirt, but now Basilisk's back; she's gone through a lot of shirt numbers. Realistically, she's here to give that team a little bit more killing edge.

21 - ST - Felixe Vetiver (

1830 Cathair) - Age 22 - 30 caps, 20 goals
Vetiver is lightning-fast, entirely two-footed, ruthless in front of goal and absolutely fearless. She's got a fine first touch and links up play well, with intelligent, mature movement. She's stronger than she looks, though no powerhouse. Strong mentality, no serious issues off the pitch apart from a generally taciturn, cynical nature. And after scoring six goals in four World Cup games, at nineteen... it's safe to say Vetiver's a generational talent. Nepharim look at her and lick their lips, thinking of World Cups. Teenagers don't tend to break through in Nephara, getting eased into the team picture. Vetiver disagreed, and has reliably swept awards in the National League since her arrival at Cathair.

Copa Rushmori 42 - Everything Thread (Rushmore only)

Copa Rushmori 42 - Everything Thread (Rushmore only)

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